‘Upskilling’ Sandoval County’s workforce, closing labor gaps
Courtesy illustration
Community leaders are taking steps to help close labor gaps in Sandoval County.
Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico Chairman Jerry Schalow is also the CEO of the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce. He has identified labor gaps, situations in which the community doesn’t have enough qualified workers, around technology, information technology, medical care and manufacturing.
Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico provides resources for people exploring career opportunities and offers support to local job providers, according to its website,
Schalow explained a program that will allow Workforce Connection applicants to receive funding to take courses related to labor gaps.
Multiple programs boost local economic opportunity
From left, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and N.M. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham listen to the remarks of Keyvan Esfarjani, Intel senior vice president and general manager of Manufacturing and Operations, during the announcement of Intel’s $3.5 million in its Rio Rancho plant Monday. Gary Herron photo.
Work to bolster the economy was the main focus at the Thursday morning NAIOP Rio Rancho Roundtable virtual session.
Sparked by the May 3 news that Intel was investing $3.5 billion into its sprawling Rio Rancho campus, and bringing 700 new high-tech jobs and 1,000 construction jobs, creating new jobs and training a workforce were among the topics.