Future Ready Oregon Annual Report Shows Positive Impacts

The HECC Office of Research and Data has prepared the third annual report on Future Ready Oregon. This report provides a comprehensive evaluation of the ongoing implementation and impact of all eight Future Ready Oregon programs. The report includes findings on participation, workforce program completion, and participants’ employment outcomes; compares participation and outcomes to statewide economic and education trends; and makes recommendations for the coming years.

Overall Findings

• Program participation and services: In its first two years, Future Ready Oregon has served 14,251 participants and offered more than 45,000 services, which include workforce education and training programs and support services that reduce barriers to participation.
• Priority populations: Virtually all participants are low-income, and 92 percent also identified as a member of one or more additional priority populations identified in Senate Bill 1545 (2022) (among those who reported their identities).  The diversity of Future Ready Oregon participants is greater than that of Oregon’s labor force, a necessary step in diversifying Oregon’s workforce.
• Wages and employment: In addition, most participants experienced employment and wage gains, among those for whom employment outcomes could be calculated. Sixty-five percent of participants who were not employed when they began services were employed afterwards. Those who were employed before beginning services experienced a median quarterly wage increase of $720.61.
• Industry sectors: Finally, 46 percent of employed participants were working in the focus industries of healthcare or manufacturing after participation.  

Recommendations

• Continuing community engagement: Engaging priority populations intentionally and extensively is consistently associated with improved outcomes.
  • Recommendation: Future workforce investments, particularly those aimed at advancing equity, should intentionally engage specific underserved communities. Current investments should continue this approach.
• Reaching Oregonians ages 40 and older: Future Ready Oregon extensively engages younger individuals. Meanwhile, adults ages 40 and older are more likely to face age discrimination and less likely to be employed. Older workers are poised to play a critical role in addressing Oregon labor shortages.
  • Recommendation: Future Ready Oregon should increase engagement and outreach to Oregonians ages 40 and older.
• Improving data collection: Tracking employment outcomes is vital to assessing Future Ready Oregon impacts and outcomes. Social security number reporting rates, which are key to tracking employment outcomes, vary widely by program, from 88 percent to 17 percent. Low reporting rates reduce the accuracy of employment outcome results.
  • Recommendation: Future Ready Oregon grantees need to enhance their data collection practices, particularly in the areas of training and the collection of participants’ social security numbers, to effectively track program impacts.
• Engaging Oregonians outside the labor force: For Future Ready Oregon to realize its goal of expanding the labor force, workforce development must reach those outside the labor force (individuals who have not been employed for some time or who are not currently looking for work), as well as those already seeking a job. It is unclear how much program recruitment occurs to those outside the labor force.
  • Recommendation: Future Ready Oregon should ensure engagement and outreach is directed at individuals currently outside the labor force.

2024 Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Report Shares Recommendations for Enhancing Data Collection and Sustaining Programming

The HECC’s Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development has prepared the 2024 Credit for Prior Learning Report. In addition to updates on the revision and adoption of the 2024 CPL Standards, progress towards statutory goals, participant data, and policy recommendations, the report includes an update on the capacity-building activities that 14 community colleges and five public universities engaged in with the support of one-time Future Ready Oregon grant funding awarded in 2022. Grantees used the funds to improve data collection and reporting, as well as to create professional development materials to expand staff and faculty capacity. These activities informed the key policy recommendations and overall findings featured in the 2024 report:

• Improve community college CPL data and reporting: Barriers to gathering and reporting CPL data include limited capacity for this work at community colleges, unclear awarding procedures, and a lack of technical resources to incorporate data submission into regular data submission processes. The HECC’s CPL Advisory Committee has established a workgroup to identify challenges and potential solutions.
• Seek sustainable funding: There is a lack of ongoing or sustainable funding for implementing CPL. Ongoing funding is critical to sustaining and expanding the capacity built with support from Future Ready Oregon.

This year’s report also features accounts from staff and students about how CPL is helping students complete programs and pursue their career goals. Take for example, Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) student Patricia. MHCC staff shared: 

“Patricia, one of our Early Childhood Education (ECE) Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) students who didn't qualify for financial aid, was able to earn six college credits for free and obtain her Career Pathway Certificate of completion (with a tuition waiver and Career Pathways funds). She continues to take classes toward her AA degree and will earn an additional six credits during her second year. The CPL accelerated her learning and lightened the financial burden of paying for classes without financial aid.”

See pages 4-6 of the report for additional examples of student success.

Employer Perspectives on Workforce and Talent Development

Jensen Strategies’ Report on Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology Focus Group Findings Now Available

In 2024, the HECC contracted with Jensen Strategies to conduct focus groups with employers in the healthcare, manufacturing, and technology industry sectors across the state to better understand their workforce and talent development needs. Jensen Strategies presented their findings at the Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology Industry Consortia’s fourth quarter public meetings this past fall. The summary report of the focus group findings is now available, and reviews the experiences and needs of Oregon’s employers related to workforce planning, training, development, and retention. The report will inform the Consortia’s discussions and recommendations.

Budget Hearings and Public Testimony Opportunities are Coming up for the Higher Education and Training Budget - Tentative Schedule

One key role of the HECC is to present on the comprehensive funding needs for the postsecondary education and workforce system. These presentations are made to the Joint Ways & Means Education Subcommittee to inform the development of the final 2025-2027 Legislatively Approved Budget (LAB). In addition to presentations, there are opportunities for public testimony on the budget, and testimony may be in person or remote. The tentative schedule is below and all final dates will be posted on the Subcommittee web page here. The subcommittee meetings are generally scheduled at 1:00-2:30 p.m.

• HECC Presentations:
• March 31 – Introduction to Postsecondary Education and Training in Oregon
• April 1 – The Funding Landscape for the Consolidated Budget + HECC Agency Budget   
• April 2 – Prioritizing Affordability   
• April 3 – Featured Statewide Strategies   
• April 7 – Oregon's Investment in Institutions: Impact on Oregonians 
• April 8 – Oregon's Investment in Institutions: Funding Levels  
• April 9 - Public Testimony (affordability or any topics in HECC budget)
• April 10 - Workforce Board presentations + Public Testimony (workforce or any topics in HECC budget)
• April 14-15 – Community College (CC) presentations  
• April 16 – Continued CC presentations + Public Testimony
• April 17, 21 – Public University presentations
• April 22 – Continued Public University presentations + Public Testimony
• April 23 – OHSU presentation  + HECC Conclusion

Again, all dates are tentative and the legislative subcommittee web page will have final dates; this page is also where to sign up to testify. The Oregon Legislature has a web page about how to testify here.