Agricultural News
Governor Kevin Stitt Works Toward Making Oklahoma the #1 Workforce Development State
Tue, 26 Apr 2022 14:38:37 CDT
Ron Hays catches up with Kevin Stitt as they talk about the governor's incentive plan to bring a multi-billion-dollar company into the state of Oklahoma and create up to 70,000 jobs in the state.
"This is an incentive package to attract one of the largest factories in the United States, so we are really excited about it," Stitt said, "We have got it about on the one-yard line, and it's not totally completed yet, but we are still working with that company."
Governor Stitt said this company would yield billions of dollars worth of investments and thousands of direct jobs.
"We are really excited, and it is also a new industry," Stitt said, "I have been trying to diversify our economy to make sure that we can take out any volatility in just the oil and gas industry, so we are really excited about it, and you know, Oklahoma has elected a businessman governor, and right now, it is just amazing what is going on in Oklahoma."
Stitt said Oklahoma has the lowest unemployment and largest savings account in the state's history.
"I have got 2,000 fewer state employees than when I took office just a few years back," Stitt said. "I am just excited about the momentum we have right now, here in the state."
Every company in Oklahoma, or moving to Oklahoma, Stitt said, communicates how critical having a good workforce is.
"So, we have got a bunch of incentives together," Stitt said. "A new program to be the number-one workforce development state."
Stitt said he is aligning career-tech, common education, and higher education to work with the industry and figure out what jobs and skills they need. Then, Stitt said, information will go to common education to prepare those individuals for the workforce.
Stitt said they are also investing in retraining individuals for careers. Individuals who may have stayed home caring for children or an aging parent for many years and want to get back into the workforce will have the opportunity to access programs and career techs to help them transition.
The career techs, Stitt said, do a great job of aligning the skills a company needs with individuals who are willing to learn these skills.
"I just want young people to know, we have about fifty percent of the kids coming out of high school going to college, higher education, and we need more engineers, and we need more nurses, but also we need plumbers, electricians, heat and air, all the skills."
There are fantastic careers, Stitt said, for every single young person.
"We know that as you get older, you realize that God made everybody uniquely," Stitt said. "So, I want those young people to have opportunities and know that if you don't want to become an engineer, there are other great jobs."
When Stitt met with American Airlines executives, he said they have 5000 employees in Tulsa. A starting salary for an A&P mechanic, Stitt said, is $75,000 a year.
"So, I want more kids getting into A&P mechanics," Stitt said. "They top out seven years in at $130,000. There are fantastic jobs for every single person however you are designed or whatever your skills are, there are great careers in Oklahoma, and that is my message to young people."
To listen to more of Ron's conversation with Governor Kevin Stitt, including comments about McGirt v. Oklahoma and how the state plans to help producers and landowners during wildfires and drought, click the LISTEN BAR below.
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