Oakland County today released a workforce development survey that for the first time provides job profiles of future employees in the connected mobility industry. The job profiles include connected systems engineer, electrical engineer, computer systems engineer, software applications developer, software systems developer, among others.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson says he is hopeful that K-12, college, and university educators will use the information in the Skills Needs Assessment Project (SNAP) on Connected Mobility to shape existing work and create new programming to train future employees of the rapidly changing industry.
The report, which was commissioned by Oakland County and funded by the Michigan Talent Investment Agency, was researched and written by EdEn Inc. in Rochester Hills. It was released to approximately 250 educators, industry experts, and government officials during an event this morning at the Michigan State University Education Management Center in Troy.
“We are hoping the (connected mobility sector) is energized by this report,” says Patterson. “As we build Oakland County and this region into a connected mobility center, we need to equip our talent with the necessary tools to thrive and excel in the field. This is our opportunity to take this information and really shine.”
The SNAP report, the first of its kind nationwide, is a comprehensive examination of the specific employment needs of the rapidly expanding connected mobility industry. It surveyed 50 companies from the region, asking them to identify employment gaps and suggesting the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for those seeking employment in this industry.
“We’re hoping our young people learn more about the careers that are available to them and explore these careers,” says Jennifer Llewellyn, manager of Oakland County, Michigan Works! “We hope K-12 and post-secondary schools continue tailoring their curriculum to the connected mobility industry as we brand Oakland County as the place for connected mobility talent and business.”
The Connected Mobility report is the fourth in the SNAP series. The initial report was prepared in 2009 and focused on Emerging Sectors companies that are helping diversify the county’s economy by replacing lost manufacturing jobs. The second report, completed in 2013, focused on the needs of advanced manufacturing, and the 2014 report examined the employment needs of health systems in the region. The report can be viewed online here.
