Volume 34

Number 6

Winter 2003

An influential national magazine ranks Oklahoma 4th in the nation for work force training programs in its October 2003 issue. Consultants polled by Expansion Management magazine cited Oklahoma’s commitment to the Training for Industry Program (TIP), which is for new and expanding businesses, Existing Industry Program and Safety Training Program as some of the best programs of their kind in the country.

“Needless to say, we are pleased by this news. This endorsement helps validate the quality of the business and industry training programs available in Oklahoma through the CareerTech System,” said Phil Berkenbile, interim director of the Oklahoma CareerTech System. “Business and industry training programs have distinguished Oklahoma’s economic development effort and underscore CareerTech’s leadership in this area on a national level.”

Editors of the magazine asked leading business location consultants nationwide to rank the states in terms of their training programs. Consultants considered ease of doing business and the flexibility to customize training programs when deciding where to rank states.

Last year CareerTech business and industry programs in the 29 technology centers directly served more than 5,358 businesses and industries in Oklahoma through nearly 328,000 enrollments. (“Enrollments” are not the same as employees, who may enroll in more than one program.) This is an increase of 13,000 enrollments over the past two years and includes workforce-bound adults as well as business and industry personnel.

For new companies locating in Oklahoma or companies that are expanding, TIP is a valuable resource. In the fiscal year 2003 (FY03), TIP enrollments totaled 17,542. There were also nearly 212,300 enrollments for customized, industry specific training and for existing industry training to streamline, improve or create new processes

Safety training is often built into TIP, existing and industry specific training plans to help companies comply with Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) standards and to lower workplace injury and associated costs. In FY03 more than 49,000 employees were trained through 113,100 enrollments statewide in the areas of general industry and construction, hazardous waste operations, and safety and health management training.

The CareerTech system is a key contributor to economic development in Oklahoma through the many services offered. This marks the fifth year in a row that Expansion Management has compiled a national listing of work force training programs. Oklahoma has been included in the top ten all five years.

For additional information about CareerTech business and industry training programs visit http://www.okcareertech.org/main/busind.htm