East Multnomah County One Stop Career System

Health Care Industry Forum

What:
The East County One Stop Career System (ECOS) has formed an East County Health Care Industry Forum to focus on workforce development strategies that support the industry's ability to create sufficient numbers of talented, qualified potential employees to fill projected shortages. The Health Care Industry Forum is part of ECOS' Regional Investment Program, "Learning a Living - Strategies for Upward Mobility and Community Building." This project builds upon the work of the Metropolitan Health Care Workforce Consortium, and creates a strategic plan based upon the specific needs of the east county community.

Who:
The Health Care Industry Forum is comprised of health care industry employers and workforce development professionals. Representatives from area hospitals, medical clinics, long term care facilities, and other interested persons are participating.

Issue:
There is an enormous need for workers in the health care industry. The industry can offer either revolving door employment in dead end jobs, or access to regular, well-paid professional positions. There is opportunity to move underemployed persons as well as individuals with barriers to employment into these jobs, if career paths that lead to greater earning potential can be articulated. People working in entry-level positions need career development tools that demonstrate how to achieve upward mobility. Employers will benefit from a clearly articulated process that allows them to help employees attain new skills and be retained on a long-term career path in the industry. With opportunities to participate in a focused, integrated health care industry career development plan, east county health care workers can advance skills, be better compensated, and provide a supply of qualified workers for an industry with increasing demand and shortages.

Background:
Employing over 15,000 persons, the Health Care Industry is the largest in this sub-region. Approximately 20% of persons employed in East Multnomah County (82nd Ave. to Bonneville Dam) are employed in health care occupations. Kaiser Permanente, Providence, Portland Adventist and Mt. Hood Legacy collectively employ over 6000 persons in their facilities alone. Long term, assisted living, imaging, radiology, medical and dental clinics, chiropractic, naturopathic and Oriental medicine providers and others add substantial additional employees. Industry need for quality employees is intense, as is the opportunity for quality jobs.

Plan:
Health Care Industry Forum members are working together to identify workforce and training needs, and to guide strategy development. Members are crafting a plan to integrate on-the-job and formal training programs, and explore the use of on-line and distance learning potential. This planning is expected to result in increased career development opportunities and upward mobility for people entering or advancing in careers in health care fields.

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