{"id":21544,"date":"2019-03-12T00:37:20","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T00:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/ftf\/?p=21544"},"modified":"2019-03-14T21:16:43","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T21:16:43","slug":"ensuring-readiness-for-the-workforce-begins-decades-earlier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ftf-stg.magnetry.com\/es\/2019\/03\/ensuring-readiness-for-the-workforce-begins-decades-earlier\/","title":{"rendered":"Ensuring readiness for the workforce begins decades earlier"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Arizona, as in most of the United States, businesses don\u2019t have enough workers with the skills that employers need. Nearly half the American workforce lacks the basic education and communication skills required to get a job and advance, according to a survey of chief executive officers in the US.<\/p>\n

Many economists contend the solution starts in a child\u2019s early years. Recently, Art Rolnick, a nationally-recognized advocate for early childhood, was in Arizona to share with legislators<\/a> and others that the best target for public investment is to invest in children birth to age 5.<\/p>\n

Rolnick, who is an economist and a senior fellow at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, pointed to studies that show early childhood investments have up to an 18 percent return on investment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want policy makers to think of early childhood as economic development,\u201d Rolnick said. \u201cIt\u2019s the best public investment we can make.\u201d<\/p>\n

Research from the American Enterprise Institute shows that today\u2019s employers struggle to find workers with the right set of skills for today\u2019s workplace \u2013 skills that go beyond the technical or job-specific and include quality workplace interactions like teamwork, communication, problem-solving and follow-through on commitments.<\/p>\n

These so-called \u201csoft skills\u201d are sorely missing, according to business leaders and a recent report cites that many employers consider those \u201csoft skills\u201d among the highest priority for job candidates. Additional studies show that they will become increasingly important for the jobs of the future. Those skills start to develop at birth and are taught, promoted and strengthened through quality child care.<\/p>\n

First Things First is doing its part to help Arizona\u2019s young kids be ready for success in kindergarten and beyond by supporting high-quality early childhood experiences.<\/p>\n

Research shows that 90 percent of a child\u2019s brain develops before age 5. Critical skills like motivation, self-discipline, focus and self-esteem begin to take root from birth. Ensuring that children have high-quality experiences during these critical early years has tremendous impact on kids and<\/em> their communities.<\/p>\n

Children who are prepared for kindergarten are more likely to do well in school and graduate from high school. As adults, they tend to be healthier and earn more. They also are less likely to become part of the criminal justice system or the welfare system.<\/p>\n

It is crucial young kids receive support from family and their community, so whether you have a child 5 and younger in your life or not \u2013 investing time, energy and resources in helping kids arrive at kindergarten prepared to be successful is smart.<\/p>\n

Here are just a few ways that business owners can make a difference in their future workforce.<\/p>\n