Gov. Sanders outlines workforce strategy

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Gov. Sarah Sanders outlined Thursday (Feb. 15) a broad strategy for revamping Arkansas’ workforce development efforts.

“Arkansas’ economy is booming, but if we don’t get workers off the sidelines and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow, we won’t reap the full rewards of that growth,” said Gov. Sanders. “I tasked Mike Rogers and the Workforce Cabinet with making Arkansas a national leader in workforce development. This workforce strategy will guide us toward that goal and help put every Arkansan on the path to a good-paying, valuable career.”

Rogers was named to the new role of Chief Workforce Officer early in Sanders’ administration. She tasked him to lead a workforce cabinet to develop this report.

Gov. Sanders outlines workforce strategy

Economists: U.S., Arkansas economies not likely to see recession in 2023

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

According to three economists who spoke Friday (Jan. 27) at the 29th annual Arkansas Business Forecast Luncheon held in Rogers, Arkansas and the U.S. will likely avoid economic recession primarily because of continued job and wage growth.

Around 1,000 people attended the event, according to officials with the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.

Simmons Foods CEO Todd Simmons was the moderator for the event and said three areas of concern from his perspective included the need for affordable housing in Northwest Arkansas to ensure people continue to move here. He also said the region’s population growth over the past decade has taxed transportation infrastructure, and keeping up with the higher demand is crucial to ongoing growth. Lastly, he said workforce development is imperative for the region’s future growth.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/economists-u-s-arkansas-economies-not-likely-to-see-recession-in-2023/

Arkansas Judge Rules Canceled Pandemic Unemployment Benefits to Resume

By JACQUELINE FROELICH

Federal pandemic unemployment relief has been ordered to resume in Arkansas by a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge to as many as 70,000 qualified Arkansans. In May, the emergency benefits were terminated by Governor Asa Hutchinson, who said jobs are now plentiful. Legal Aid of Arkansas sued the state on behalf of five Arkansas plaintiffs who claim the temporary benefits are critically needed.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/arkansas-judge-rules-canceled-pandemic-unemployment-benefits-resume

Over a hundred workers stand socially distanced in line at Arkansas Workforce Services to apply for pandemic unemployment assistance last year in Fayetteville.

J. FROELICH / KUAF