Recruitment is challenging

I can deeply appreciate Ozzie Knezovich’s concern about the apprehension people have about becoming police officers. What he points to, I believe, is a bigger picture.

As I was running for Spokane City Council, I heard over and over again that jobs were needed. I also heard from job training providers (unions and others) that they could not fill their classes and programs. Associated General Contractors provides six weeks free training, with certificates at the end enabling employment, yet they can’t fill their classes. What’s going on here?

As a former college instructor, I can tell you that more than half the students are women. Men, it seems, are missing in action. I talked to a local businessman who owns a machining shop. He can’t find trained hires since Spokane Community College closed their classes.

IBM suggests we have six-year high schools, combining traditional education with job skill training, including mentoring and real-world job experience. I took that one step further when I created the Entrepreneurial Skills Center, Inc., teaching high school students how to start a business (over 40 percent did exactly that).

Why is there such a mismatch between folks seeking work and job-training providers?

Kathryn Alexander

Spokane