Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | March 6, 2023 | Worcester Business Journal 29 Collaboration is key to strengthening the workforce across Mass. V I E W P O I N T E D I T O R I A L S ince employers are struggling to find skilled labor, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce this year published a study focusing on workforce growth barriers, especially those related to ge- ography, skills, and work-life balance. In commissioning the study, we were particularly interested in identifying potential solutions to help with the labor challenges. roughout the process, we realized North Central Massachusetts is not unique in these workforce issues, as the commonwealth is facing a major labor crisis throughout its cities and towns. While we can debate the issues at hand, the truth is there simply are not enough people to fill available jobs. If not resolved, this issue is only projected to worsen and threaten our state's ability to grow and compete. Our study proved many workers are willing to work, but the barriers they face can limit a person's ability to obtain a job, including where they live, what skills they have, spoken (and unspoken) rules and regulations, and even the structure of public benefits. From a lack of affordable housing adjacent to jobs and transportation options, to skills no longer aligning with regional industries and overly aggressive online applicant filters, the challenges facing today's workforce are unique to those of years past. e solution is to draw potential workers, who may have le the workforce or are not fully participating in the workforce, back into the job market as well as to attract and retain the future workers businesses will need to thrive and expand. Simply put, we need to make it easier for people to work. We encourage policymakers to consider the strate- gies identified in the study to help pull hidden as well as future workers into the labor force, including addi- tional and better childcare choices, implementation of new worker transit, the creation of innovative training and credentialing programs, and fostering relationships with local community colleges, businesses, and even our prison system. We must eliminate barriers, encourage partnerships, and promote stronger pathways for individ- uals into the labor market. Here in North Central Massachusetts, we are in a unique situation because the collaboration among busi- nesses, educators, and other key stakeholders is already strong. For long-term change to occur, all stakeholders need to be at the same table: the chamber, transportation, K-12, higher education, businesses, legislators, workforce development leaders, and workers. It is my hope by commissioning this study we will have a shared roadmap to overcome the challenges and set forth a bright future for employers and workers alike in the region and throughout the commonwealth. Roy M. Nascimento is president and CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. To read the North Central Workforce study, please visit www.northcentralmass.com. BY ROY M. NASCIMENTO Special to WBJ A T H O U SA N D WO R D S B Y R A M Ó N L . S A N D O V A L Growing opportunities in a growing region Roy M. Nascimento F rom 2010 to 2020, the population of Central Massachusetts grew 8.1%, outpacing both the state and national averages, while closing in on nearly 1.3 million people throughout Worcester County and the MetroWest region. e city of Worcester was the fastest-growing major city in New England over that stretch, adding more than 25,000 residents. While all that change has caused some headaches, like a lack of affordable housing, it has created plenty of opportunities. Coming out of that first down year of the coronavirus pandemic, we've started to see a new trend in the region: more new business startups. In 2021, more than 2,700 new businesses started in Central Massachusetts, a rise of nearly 15% from the previous year, according to a WBJ analysis of incorporation filings with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. at spike in 2021 came aer two consecutive years of decreases in the number of new business starts. e 2021 rise in the region mirrored, but also outpaced, both statewide and national trends of new companies being created. While last year the number of new business startups fell 3% in Massachusetts and 6% in the nation, Central Massachusetts bucked that trend, showing an increase in new companies in 2022. Nearly 2,800 Central Massachusetts organizations got their start last year, a 1.5% increase from 2021. e increase reflects the fact our region has growing economic opportunities, and local entrepreneurs are seizing on them. Not every new business is going to succeed, nor is every market opportunity going to pan out. But a startup relies on hustle, innovation, and sweat equity, and the release of that positive energy contributes to a thriving business community. New competition can disrupt a market, and constant change is more the rule than the exception. In the real estate arena, apartments remain hot while single-family home sales have cooled; warehouse and life sciences operations are expanding; and office space has a harder time getting filled. It's the natural cycle of the economy. But with the Central Massachusetts population growing at a faster rate than the state and the nation, and the pace of new business startups exceeding the state and the nation, clearly the region has a lot of economic opportunity. The above Editorial is the opinion of the WBJ Editorial Board. The Viewpoint column, the A Thousand Words cartoon, and the Word from the Web commentary represent the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of WBJ or its staff. WBJ welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Send them to bkane@wbjournal.com. W W

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