Local Bunker Hill Community College Joins Newly Formed MassSkills Coalition to Boost Talent Recruitment

Governor Maura Healey has formed the MassSkills Coalition. This initiative aims to enhance talent recruitment and retention across different industries. Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is a founding member of the coalition, launched at the Massachusetts Business Roundtable's Board Meeting on March 19, 2024. The coalition builds on Governor Healey's previous order promoting skills-based hiring in the state.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones are optimistic about the coalition. They believe it can boost the state's economy through collaboration between businesses, academia, and government. BHCC supports skills-based hiring through its Rapid Recovery and Reemployment (R3) Program, which has trained over 500 students since 2021.

Besides the R3 Program, BHCC has helped over 6,000 students complete short-term Workforce and Economic Development programs. According to Kristen McKenna, Dean of Workforce and Economic Development at BHCC, these programs help students gain skills or credentials faster, making them job-ready sooner.

The MassSkills Coalition, led by leaders from different sectors, aims to promote skills-based hiring and workplace diversity. It will provide a platform for sharing resources and data to support these goals. The coalition plans to improve talent sourcing, job descriptions, assessment tools, and degree requirements. It also aims to create clear career paths and reward employees for gaining credentials. To tackle specific issues, the coalition will form working groups led by relevant stakeholders and government bodies.

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