A collaborative effort among state leadership and workforce development entities has placed Alabama’s workforce on track to surpass the state’s ambitious postsecondary attainment goal, according to Gov. Kay Ivey.
The governor’s “Success Plus” plan aims to add 500,000 individuals with postsecondary credentials to the state’s workforce by 2025.
According to the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC), Alabama has added 214,922 credentials since the plan’s inception in 2018.
In detailing the plan’s successful implementation, Ivey said that the Yellowhammer State was “laser-focused” on championing initiatives that would lead to further economic growth.
“Here in Alabama, we are laser-focused on bringing good-paying jobs to the state, and very importantly, we want to ensure we are providing opportunities for Alabamians to be the most equipped for those jobs,” said the governor in a release. “I am proud of our progress and predict we are well on our way to surpassing the goal of adding 500,000 additional credentialed individuals to our workforce by 2025.”
In collaboration with Ivey, AlabamaWorks! and the Alabama Workforce Council partnered with Credential Engine and the CREC to track the progress.
Alabama Workforce Council chair Tim McCartney praised Ivey’s leadership in overseeing the plan’s implementation.
“I am extremely proud of the work the Alabama Workforce Council has done in advancing Governor Ivey’s Success Plus initiative and helping Alabamians earn post-secondary credentials that will set them up for success,” stated McCartney. “It is evident we have more work to do to carry this goal to completion, but we are on the right path and have the right leadership with Governor Ivey at the helm.”
Since 2018, Alabama has made progress toward the Success Plus goal of adding 500,000 credentialed adults ages 16 to 64 to the workforce by 2025, according to the governor’s office.
Of the more than 200,000 added credentialed individuals, 137,848 newly credentialed individuals were in the 16 to 24 age group, and 38,240 were in the 25 to 64 age group.
According to Alabama Department of Commerce secretary Greg Canfield, future economic growth relies upon ensuring that the state’s workforce is prepared to meet the demands of industry.
“Alabama’s current and future economic growth depends on a highly skilled workforce. That’s why I am so proud of the progress we are making in increasing our postsecondary education attainment goal,” advised Canfield. “We are on track to meet our goal, which will result in more Alabamians in the workforce.”
The following is a breakdown of Alabama’s credentialing figures from 2018 to 2021:
- First degrees from public and private postsecondary schools: 145,194
- First certificates from public and private postsecondary schools: 33,059
- First licenses: 1,430
- Certifications: 34,552
- Apprenticeships: 668
Ed Castile, Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) executive director and deputy secretary of Commerce, touched on the partnership formed across state government to ensure the plan’s success.
“Success Plus has required focused efforts across multiple state agencies, the private sector and community-based organizations,” said Castile. “I am proud of the progress we have made thus far, and I am even more excited about the progress we will make between now and 2025.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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