A thriving community depends on the success of its workforce. While many workers are facing challenges in their current positions, others are struggling to procure work at all. Lack of transportation, unreliable child care, and credentialing gaps are just some of the barriers people in the Mississippi Delta region are experiencing in their efforts to find and retain employment.
Solving the workforce access challenges in the Delta is multifaceted and takes multiple organizations working from different angles. Douglas Freeze, vice president of workforce and economic development at Mississippi Delta Community College, considers his department the “workforce arm” of the college. “Our programs help people get a job, keep a job, or make more money,” Freeze said.
He was quick to point out that, while they provide training programs, they also rely on partners, such as WIN Job Centers, the Washington County Economic Alliance, South Delta Planning and Development District, and several others, to better serve their students. He noted that MDCC President, Dr. Steven J. Jones, has championed the idea of “forward together,” and that’s exactly what they’re trying to do. “We want to move the Delta forward,” Freeze said.
According to the Delta Local Area Plan produced by South Delta Planning and Development District, “The Delta lags behind its three counterparts – Mississippi Partnership, Southcentral Mississippi Works, and Twin Districts Workforce Development Areas – on critical economic indicators, including the lowest labor force participation rate, average wages, and predicted job growth over the next decade.”
While many industries are projected to decline over time, others are projected to have substantial growth. The MDES Industry Employment Projections, Year 2022 Projected to Year 2032 reports some of the highest projected growth for the Delta workforce development area among transportation and warehousing, information careers, primarily in publishing industries, health care and social assistance, and professional, scientific, and technical services.
For those looking for employment, these growing industries are a great place to focus training and job search efforts. According to the Mississippi Occupational Projections report, healthcare support occupations, including home health and personal care aides, nursing assistants, physical therapist assistants, and others, are projected to see a 20.3% growth in the Delta workforce development area by 2032. Computer and mathematical occupations are projected to have a 13.1% increase in the same time frame, with software developers showing the highest growth.
AccelerateMS, part of the state’s Office of Workforce Development, works with community colleges, private training providers, universities, and the South Delta Planning and Development District, the state’s local workforce development area for that region.
“The way it works is that locals work with us, and we identify training gaps or things that need to be addressed, however that may be, and then we mobilize resources if we are able to,” said Dr. Courtney Taylor, executive director for AccelerateMS. She noted that they can’t fund everything, but said they’ll mobilize resources where they can to help offset the costs of workforce development efforts.
“When it comes to gaps, the biggest one is just available and appropriate career, technical, and workforce education programs that suit what industries are trying to hire for,” Taylor said. “People are still convinced they have to go through really long training programs to go to work, and they don’t.”
MSPathfinder is a website provided by AccelerateMS to help individuals find a career path and training options that fit their needs. “This is where we put what we call our priority occupations,” Taylor said. “These aren’t always things that don’t require a degree, but they are things that we are working with partners to make sure we have pathway programs into – electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, industrial maintenance, things like that. There isn’t a state-wide source to get that information.”
While some programs cater to adults, others start as early as high school to assist students, many of whom would not consider seeking a degree and are not knowledgeable about available career options. Pointing students to career paths early helps reduce the likelihood that they will graduate with no career plan.
Ethan Huey, a 19-year-old licensed funeral director at Bush Funeral Services and former Greenville High School student, had always known he wanted to work in funeral services – he just didn’t know where to start. . Through a career coaching program provided by AccelerateMS, he connected with Traci Sims-Sprouse, a career coach. “I explained my interest in funeral services. And she was like, okay, I’m going to help you in that area. And that’s what she did,” said Huey. “Ms. Sprouse found a funeral home to shadow under, and then I moved to another funeral home where I completed my apprenticeship. I am the youngest licensed funeral director in the state of Mississippi right now.”
“This young guy had the desire to be a mortician, which just threw us,” said Kenneth L. Gines, career coach manager at South Delta Planning and Development District. He noted that agriculture, commercial driving, welding, and healthcare are popular job tracks in the region, but his team will help students follow any dream they have. “We’re going to try to hook you up with someone in that field to help you achieve that goal.”
This is part one of a five-part series that will focus on workforce access in the Mississippi Delta. Keep reading each week to learn how Delta locals are overcoming challenges through community partnerships and practical pathways. This series is supported by the Foundation for the Mid South’s Moving Mississippians Forward initiative, which includes a cohort of organizations working to expand access to training and employment across the Delta.
How to Get Help with Employment
- Start by visiting a WIN Job Center. Located throughout Mississippi, the job centers offer employment experts who assist with job placement, skill training, career counseling, resume reviews, and more. Staff will work with individual job seekers to determine their needs and refer them to the proper partner agencies and resources. All services are free, and no appointments are needed.
- Review pathway opportunities through MSPathfinder. People can search occupations by region and ecosystem to understand which jobs are most relevant to their area. Each job page includes a job description, average salary, and links to specific training programs to help people find pathways close to home. While some of the jobs require degrees, most do not.
- Apply for relevant training. Training options vary depending on the program. WIN Job Centers and MSPathfinder will both guide people to appropriate training for their desired career path. Training and certification programs are often offered through local community colleges.
- Attend a workforce expo. On March 5, Mississippi Today will host a free workforce expo at Jackson Medical Mall in Jackson, bringing together employers, training providers, and resource organizations in one place. The event is designed to connect job seekers directly with opportunities and information.