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New order establishes Kansas workforce improvement council

A signed executive order from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has created the Advantage Kansas Coordinating Council to improve the state’s workforce. The council will align education with state agencies and business needs to develop, retain and attract Kansans into the workforce. 

On Monday, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 21-08, establishing the Advantage Kansas Coordinating Council (AKCC).

The council was created to improve Kansas’s workforce and is comprised of education and business leaders across the state. The AKCC will align education with state agencies and business needs to develop, retain and attract talented Kansans into the workforce, according to a Monday news release from the governor’s office.

Members consist of individuals from the governor’s office, State Board of Education, Kansas Department of Education, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas Chamber and others.

“As we recover from the pandemic, we must rebuild a stronger, healthier workforce that can meet the demands of our growing economy,” Kelly said. “The Advantage Kansas Coordinating Council will empower education and industry leaders to collaborate on long-term solutions, develop the most skilled workforce in the Midwestern region, and recruit new businesses to our state.”

Goals outlined for the AKCC include:

  • Preparing workers for high-wage, high-demand, high skilled, critical need occupations;
  • Expanding public-private partnerships and strategies focused on access and equity to dual and concurrent enrollment;
  • Expanding industry driven youth and registered apprenticeship opportunities;
  • Conducting a comprehensive assessment of, and recommend targeted improvements in, the use of state and federal resources tied to workforce development, education, and training.