Special to The Star-Herald
PRESQUE ISLE – You have heard of “white collar workers” and “blue collar workers,” but have you heard of “gold collar workers?” Participants at a presentation held recently in Presque Isle had an opportunity to learn from Walter Ridlon, of Central Maine Community College, exactly what the term means.
The presentation, titled “Focus on Building Community Networks: Creating a Pipeline of ‘Gold Collar’ Workers – Opportunities for Youth in Technical Occupations,” drew participants from throughout Aroostook County. For too long, there has been a stigma attached to being a “blue collar worker,” these days, however, it is these technically skilled individuals who are earning top dollar for their work. No longer are these high-wage jobs in technical careers being ignored in the field of workforce development. A new way to look at these jobs is to change their title from “blue collar” to “gold collar.”
Ridlon spoke with participants about ways we can assist young people along toward achieving their chosen career paths.
“It doesn’t matter so long as your pathway takes you to your passion,” Ridlon said.
He pointed out that right now the majority of jobs are high-tech careers. What the careers of the future will be, and how we train for them have yet to be determined, but everyone involved with youth, including the businesses and community, need to be key players in helping students get to the careers.
The event, sponsored by the Workforce Investment Board for Aroostook and Washington Counties, the Presque Isle CareerCenter, Maine Jobs Council, Maine Administrators of Career and Technical Education, and the Department of Labor Faith Based and Community Initiatives, provided participants an opportunity to discuss what steps they felt would best promote the idea of “gold collar jobs” to disengaged youth.
Following discussion, the group felt the strong messages should be that education pays off, but that there have to be better connections between employers, schools, and training. Participants felt that more opportunities for youth to explore these kinds of careers were important as they select career paths for themselves. And finally, a need was identified for job readiness classes in high school to prepare students for the world of work.
(Dena L. Winslow, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Workforce Investment Board for Aroostook/Washington counties).
Contributed photo
WALTER RIDLON, of Central Maine Community College, recently spoke in Presque Isle about “gold collar workers.” He said that for too long, there has been a stigma attached to being a “blue collar worker,” however; these days it is these technically skilled individuals who are earning top dollar for their work. No longer are these high-wage jobs in technical careers being ignored in the field of workforce development. A new way to look at these jobs is to change their title from “blue collar” to “gold collar.” Ridlon spoke with participants about ways we can assist young people along toward achieving their chosen career paths.
