Family can help children develop basic life, work skills

We hear it more and more frequently. America's workforce is in dire straits. Companies are seeking new employees to fill the gaps being left as current workers retire or are promoted. As younger

people come to be interviewed, many are found to fall short of job requirements.

The national issue of rampant drug addiction, especially the burgeoning rate of addiction to methamphetamine, is one major component of the problem of having a strong workforce. That problem, as difficult as it is to address, must be solved.

But a major problem confronting employers today ? lack of soft skills ? may be more easily resolved.

10th District State Rep. Terry Rogers, in a column in the July 14 Weekend edition of The Northeast Georgian, reviewed some of the problems and issues facing workforce development in Georgia's rural counties.

Locally, our newly formed Habersham Partnership for Growth/Economic Development Council has as a core mission of workforce development and education. Efforts include developing internship/apprentice cooperative programs, developing local avenues for incorporating the Georgia Department of Community Affairs'Great Promise Partnership, which focuses on at-risk high school students programs.

The Habersham County School System has in place for juniors and seniors the Georgia Department of Labor's Georgia BEST (Business Ethics Student Training) program, according to Tim Lee, executive director of HPG. The program focuses on developing 10 soft-skill standards, including: professional image; attendance/punctuality; attitude/respect; social media ethics; discipline/character; productivity/academic performance; responsibility/organization; self-management/time management, and; teamwork/work habits.

To be implemented at Cornelia Elementary School this fall is the "Leader in Me" program, which is to develop in students at an early age seven basic leadership principles. Among the skills developed, which have often been neglected, are; being proactive; planning; work, then play and listening before talking.

As Rogers pointed out these soft skills and basic fundamental skills are weak with many job applicants and it is a problem across Georgia.

We cannot just rely on others to solve our problems. HPG, the school system and local employers, are working hard to reverse the sad trend of poorly developed soft skills.

But we really need to take a hard look at ourselves and our extended families. Do you see that your child, your niece or your nephew is a poor communicator? Does your child look a person in the eye when introduced during a handshake? Do they start and then finish a job assignment?

Helping family develop important soft skills and fundamentals may well be the key to solving the quality workforce issue ? and you can help.