Page 27: of Marine News Magazine (May 2022)

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WORKFORCE schoolwork to align with work tours.

In discussions with waterways busi- Students enroll on their own, of course, ness leaders, workforce availability but the College also trains employees remains a top issue. COVID-19’s im- sent by employers, and not just Paducah pacts have not yet faded away. Accord- employers – the training programs are ing to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statis- mobile. Additionally, the College, again tics (BLS) overall employment of water working with waterways operators, of- transportation workers is projected to fers a “second chance” program for re- grow 12% from 2020 to 2030, faster gional jail inmates soon to be released than the average for all occupations. and needing skills and employment.

For the inland waterways, however, Ron Robbins is the College’s Marine that projection is 25%! Technology Program Coordinator/

Paducah, Ky. is surely the central city Instructor. He said that enrollment among these central waterways. In 2018 took a hit at the onset of COVID. “It

MARAD opened an Inland Waterways is starting to rebound,” he said in an

Gateway of? ce in Paducah. Some of email, “both with new students and the top towboat and barge companies those who paused their studies.” in the Nation are headquartered there O’Neill said that since the pandemic or have major regional operations. has receded contacts have increased from

Paducah is also home to West Ken- employers seeking training programs. tucky Community and Technical Col- Robbins said the most popular pro- lege (WKCTC), a regional training cen- gram track is Marine Logistics Op- ter, and a highly recognized one. The erations, a switch from Wheelhouse

College was named a MARAD Center Management. He said logistics con- of Excellence for Domestic Maritime cepts are useful both for vessel and

Workforce Training and Education in shoreside workers.

2021, one of just 27 schools so honored. Employee development is not the “The designation validates the qual- same as workforce development. The ity and rigor of our academic program. former is more singular, the latter refer-

Many of our workforce training pro- ences groups of people preparing to start grams are United States Coast Guard ap- a career. Workforce development for the proved,” said Kevin O’Neill, WKCTC’s Inland Waterways will remain a chal- vice president of regional workforce lenge. It’s an effort that needs to inten- training and economic development. sify and scale up, a problem made worse

The College offers a number of edu- because employee turnover is high. This cational options, including associate’s is not new, but it is compounded by degrees and certi? cates across four mari- other social and economic factors, from time areas. New courses address electron- COVID to a competitive job market.

ic charting and a Coast Guard approved Ron Robbins was employed by a 16-hour marine basic ? re? ghting course. major towing company for 23 years.

O’Neill said that many students are He has direct towboat experience. Rob- already waterways employees. Schedules bins was asked: for how many of those are deliberately kept ? exible, and a lot years was it dif? cult to ? nd deckhands? of work is completed online, allowing His answer: “Twenty-three years.”