Who Will Replace the Staggering Number of Jobs Opened by Retirements
Investing in children’s education now will help prepare them for positions that will become available when a staggering number of retirements in the workforce will take place in Erie County. Though manufacturing is no longer the economic driver it once was in Erie county, it remains the second-leading industry behind health care with nearly 21,000 workers, according to the US Census Bureau.
In March of 2020, GoErie.com reported that more than a quarter of the local workforce is 55 and older. And that translates to a staggering number of retirements in the next 10 years. Currently, Erie doesn’t have enough people trained with the skills to fill many of these position.
2019 Target Industry Analysis Report
By investing in our future workforce now through United Way’s Community Schools, you are helping to level the playing fields for students so they too will gain the educational foundation, competency and confidence to go on to seek technical training, associate degrees and post secondary education degrees.
Why Being A UW Community School Booster Matters
Investing in our city’s future means supporting educational opportunities for low-income children so that they may become the next generation of Erie’s workforce—from doctors and nurses, to police officers, teachers, artists, bankers, social workers, entrepreneurs and more. That’s what it means to be a United Way Community School Booster—you are directly helping to break barriers to learning so that economically disadvantaged students may focus on what matters most—achieving academically so they may succeed in school and life.
When barriers to learning are addressed such as safe walking routes to school, basic and personal hygiene needs, adequate medical and dental care, behavioral and mental health counseling – and more -- children are ready and prepared to learn. Here are just a few stories shared by Community School Directors. United Way’s 10 community schools are: Elk Valley Elementary School, Iroquois Elementary School, Diehl Elementary School, Edison Elementary School, Harding Elementary School, McKinley Elementary School, Perry Elementary School, Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School, East Middle School and Strong Vincent Middle School.
- Pfeiffer Burleigh recently connected a family to 211 Ride United because they needed to get their child, who was experiencing severe ear infections, to the doctor. Ride United provided a round trip ride to a doctor so the issue could be resolved.
- Recently, Gannon University’s Feeding Minds and Families delivered 80 S.T.E.M kits to community schools Strong Vincent and East. Students thoroughly enjoyed the at-home educational projects, and many of them finished all of the activities in one weekend.
- Harding is partnering with Erie County Public Library to do another round of family engagement book boxes, as they were a big hit in the fall! The boxes will be distributed prior to Easter break.
- The Erie Arts and Culture virtual residencies in dance and art will be implemented at seven elementary community schools: Elk Valley, Perry, Edison, Harding, McKinley, Pfeiffer-Burleigh, and Diehl. Art classes focus on drawing and printmaking, while the dance residency explores elements of dance, inspiring creativity, and sharing and reflecting in performance.
- Diehl was awarded a mini-grant from Mercyhurst University for their school mural. The mural will be painted this summer and will reflect and celebrate the diversity of the Diehl Elementary community.
- Deihl and Perry will soon have new trees planted at their campuses thanks to ReLeaF--a strategic initiative of the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park. ReLeaf was created to educate, inspire and empower residents of Northwest Pennsylvania to positively impact the threat of climate change by planting trees in Erie County.
- To foster leadership skills in students while continuing to provide after-school programming, Strong Vincent students identified as “Commanding Colonels” will be leading after-school activities, guiding classes and lessons related to art, gaming, and dance.
- The Sisters of St. Joseph are working with Strong Vincent Middle School to connect students to summer job opportunities with their organization. Applications were sent to all 252 8th graders.