Governor launches workforce development listening tour

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam embarked on the first leg of an eight-stop workforce development listening tour Monday in Roanoke. 

The tour coincides wtih National Workforce Development Month in September. The talks are intended to provide workers, employers and local leaders a forum to provide suggestions and feedback to Northam on how to address employment challenges and strengthen Virginia's workforce. 

“Virginia was recently named the best state to do business in America, and that recognition is the result of our ongoing and targeted investments to build a diverse and highly-skilled talent pipeline,” Northam said in a statement Monday. “Over the next month, I look forward to visiting every region of the commonwealth to hear directly from the people of Virginia about the business, workforce and education challenges they face. These conversations will help us better understand how we can address their needs as we work to develop policies and programs aimed at expanding economic opportunity for all Virginians.”

“With unemployment at record lows, businesses are struggling to find the talent they need,” Megan Healy, the state's chief workforce development advisor, said in a press release. “We know the innovative solutions to some of the commonwealth's largest hiring challenges will come from people in our communities closest to the these issues.”

The sessions are scheduled as follows:

• Aug. 26: Roanoke
• Aug. 27: Harrisonburg
• Sept. 4: Danville
• Sept. 10: Northern Virginia
• Sept. 17: Norfolk
• Sept. 20: Richmond
• Sept. 23: Richlands