Connecting Educators to Industry
Open to teachers K-12. Recommended for teachers 6-12.
You may have heard about the “skills gap” in Arkansas. This means the state’s skilled professional workforce is aging, and the next generation of new talent is not sufficient to meet industry demand, especially in skilled manufacturing and technical trades. The Arkansas Chamber of Commerce reported in 2016 that there are an estimated 5.6 million job openings nationwide, with approximately 60,000 of these unfilled positions in Arkansas in highly skilled technical fields.
In response, Economics Arkansas launched a new series of workshops in 2016 to connect educators to industry representatives. Teachers hear from employers about what they can do to make sure their students are adequately prepared for the demands of the workplace.
Upon successful completion of our workshops, participating educators receive:
- 6 hours of Professional Development credits
- Ready to use resources
- Lunch
- $50 Stipend
2026 Workshop Dates Coming Soon
Connecting Educators to Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in communities and towns across our community. The importance of entrepreneurship education is often overlooked. It's not just about making money or starting a business. It's also about creating jobs, contributing to the economy, and innovating.
While every student may not become an entrepreneur, it is vital that they learn to "think like an entrepreneur," being prepared to identify and solve problems and deal with real-world challenges.
In this series, educators will hear from local business leaders about building something from scratch and how to encourage the budding entrepreneurs in their classrooms.
2026 Workshop Dates Coming Soon
"Teachers~~~Sign up for this workshop!! This is the most rewarding, informative, and eye-opening workshop you can attend. You get to know industry leaders in your community and tour industry manufacturing plants that you would never get to step foot in if you didn't attend this workshop. Get to ask questions and learn about the industry in your community, form those relationships, invite them to your classroom to speak! I learned so much about the two industries that I toured at this workshop last week. It was so informative and fun!! Don't miss out!!!"
Samantha Prince. Pottsville School District. 2019
