Governor Parson highlights workforce development in Joplin

Missouri Governor Mike Parson stopped by Crowder College’s Training Center in Joplin Thursday to talk workforce development and highlight his commitment to education.

“We’re expecting to get these students in here and to get ’em outta here, and if that means to build on and expand, that’s what we want them to do because the demand is there,” said Parson. “It doesn’t matter if its healthcare, welding, or computer science…we just need those good workers.”

Parson says Missouri has the lowest unemployment rate in the state’s history (2.5%) but there are still 127,000 job openings in the state that he hopes get filled.

“We’ve been able to do some amazing things for these training centers across the state along with working with businesses and partnering together,” added Parson, who noted that the cooperation is at all time highs between those sectors.

Parson says Missouri ranks third in the nation in apprenticeships and he wants to support those even further.

He says the state’s economy is in great shape despite inflation that’s running rampant over the country.

“When we can invest it back into the communities, invest it back into the workforce, that’s when we can build on that.”