Essential to the Knoxville region’s future economic prosperity is the ability to educate, recruit and maintain a skilled workforce. Coordination between public schools, higher education and business stakeholders ensures that the workforce is equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to fill the jobs of today and tomorrow.
Talent
Ready to Work
Talent Retention and Attraction
Retaining young adults earning post-secondary degrees and interning in the Knoxville area as well as attracting the type of talented individuals regional employers are seeking is essential to the growth of our region. Engaging with community leaders and regional partners to create a prosperous, inclusive network of young people is a priority of the Knoxville Chamber’s team and Talent Council.
Workforce Development
Building a robust talent pipeline is fundamental to driving regional economic prosperity. The Knoxville Chamber collaborates with area training providers and employers to ensure recruitment and education efforts are meeting regional demand.
The 865 Academies
Two recommendations from the Knoxville Chamber’s Workforce Redefined strategy are to prepare workforce-ready graduates by supporting more career awareness, exploration, and training opportunities and empower employers to participate in regional workforce development efforts to better meet the long-term needs of the regional business community. Knox County Schools’ new model for high schools, The 865 Academies, will be fundamental to the execution of those two strategies.