For the past 18 years, the Employer and Workforce Solutions (EWS) division at St. Louis Community College (STLCC) has produced the annual State of the St. Louis Workforce report and facilitated a corresponding event. What began as a research initiative has evolved into one of the region’s premier workforce forums, positioning the college as a trusted convener, strategic partner, and thought leader on the workforce trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the St. Louis economy.

The initiative begins each September with stakeholder engagement. EWS meets with employers, industry leaders, economic development organizations, and community partners to identify the workforce issues most critical to the region. Those conversations inform a comprehensive survey distributed to more than 1,000 businesses throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. The survey generates valuable data while also identifying emerging trends, shared concerns, and differing perspectives among employers and employees. Together, these insights provide a comprehensive picture of the region’s workforce landscape.

The value of this research extends well beyond the annual report. Findings from the initiative helped inform the development of ballot language for STLCC Transformed, a major capital funding initiative that received overwhelming voter support. The resulting investment enabled STLCC to construct six new buildings and renovate numerous existing facilities, strengthening the college’s capacity to respond to the region’s evolving educational and workforce needs.

Once the survey data has been analyzed, the EWS team turns its attention to the annual State of the St. Louis Workforce event. Each year, the report’s findings inform a central theme that focuses attention on the workforce issues most relevant to the business community. Held each August, the event regularly attracts more than 350 business executives, civic leaders, educators, and workforce professionals for a two- to three-hour program centered on dialogue, collaboration, and practical solutions.

The 2025-2026 theme, Keeping Talent Across Generations, examined the opportunities and challenges associated with today’s multigenerational workforce. Two panel discussions provided authentic perspectives from both employers and employees. Dr. Jeff Pittman, STLCC’s Chancellor, moderated the employer panel, while Ombudsperson D’Andre Braddix led the employee panel. The discussions explored the realities of managing and working within multigenerational teams and offered practical strategies for creating inclusive workplace cultures, strengthening employee retention, and improving organizational effectiveness.

The program also featured a presentation by the author, who shared key findings from the annual report. His presentation emphasized the importance of regional collaboration and continued investment in workforce education, talent development, and employer partnerships to strengthen the St. Louis economy and attract skilled workers to the region.

A central message of the presentation was that workforce development is a shared responsibility. The success of individual employers contributes to the long-term economic health of the entire region. For smaller businesses in particular, however, the cost of workforce training can be a significant barrier. The author provided an overview of Workforce Pell and its potential to expand access to short-term workforce credentials while helping employers—particularly smaller companies—address training needs without placing additional strain on already limited budgets.

The initiative does not end when the event concludes. Each attendee receives a QR code providing complimentary access to the digital edition of the report, which is subsequently made available through the STLCC website, along with a video recording of the program. Following the event, EWS distributes a participant survey to gather program feedback and identify emerging workforce issues. That input helps shape the research agenda for the following year.

In this way, the State of the St. Louis Workforce initiative operates as a continuous cycle of listening, research, engagement, and improvement. The college listens to employers and community partners, conducts research, shares what is learned, convenes stakeholders around the findings, and then uses the resulting feedback to inform the next cycle.

For nearly two decades, this approach has strengthened relationships between STLCC and the regional business community while providing data-driven insights that inform workforce strategy across industries. By maintaining an ongoing dialogue with employers and closely monitoring workforce trends, EWS can adapt educational offerings, develop responsive training programs, and help regional employers address their evolving talent needs.

The experience also illustrates a broader opportunity for community colleges in the U.S. As these institutions assume an increasingly prominent role in workforce education—and as the implementation of Workforce Pell expands opportunities for short-term credential attainment—community colleges have an opportunity to become more than responsive training providers. They can serve as regional conveners; trusted connectors; and strategic leaders capable of aligning education, industry, government, and community organizations around a shared vision for economic growth.

STLCC’s State of the St. Louis Workforce initiative demonstrates what that leadership can look like in practice. The college connects employers, policymakers, educators, and community partners to better understand workforce challenges, identify emerging opportunities, and develop collaborative solutions. Rather than simply responding to labor market demands, STLCC has helped shape the regional workforce conversation and foster innovation across sectors.

As the largest community college in Missouri and the largest institution of higher education in the St. Louis region, STLCC is uniquely positioned to serve as both an educational institution and an economic catalyst. The State of the St. Louis Workforce report and event demonstrate the essential role community colleges can play in strengthening regional economies; building meaningful partnerships with employers; and creating opportunities that benefit businesses, workers, and communities.

The initiative offers a compelling model of what is possible when a community college moves beyond traditional boundaries and embraces its role as a regional workforce leader. By listening to its community, using data to guide decisions, convening stakeholders around shared challenges, and translating research into action, STLCC has created an effort that not only informs the region but helps shape its future. That is a model that can be adapted by community and technical colleges across the U.S. and beyond.

Dr. Robert Lee is Associate Vice Chancellor, Employer and Workforce Solutions, at St. Louis Community College in St. Louis, Missouri.

Opinions expressed in Member Spotlight are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the League for Innovation in the Community College.