Lane County Sector Strategy Team (LCSST)

The LCSST uses the Next Generation Sector Partnerships model to foster collaboration among private businesses and key stakeholders, including local government, education, organized labor, economic development, and community-based organizations.

Key Points:

  • Sector Strategies: Business-led partnerships funded by WIOA to invest in talent development, job creation, and business competitiveness.
  • Data-Driven Approach: Comprehensive analysis of local labor market data identifies vital industries for regional economy.
  • Key Sectors in Lane County:
    • BioScience (Planning)
    • Childcare (Sustaining)
    • Construction-Aggregate (Sustaining)
    • Creatives (Sustaining)
    • Food and Beverage Manufacturing (Sustaining)
    • Healthcare (Planning)
    • Leisure & Hospitality (Planning)
    • Technology (Sustaining)
    • Transportation (Sustaining)
    • Wood Products (Sustaining)

Goals:

  • Elevate Business Voice
  • Articulate Workforce Needs
  • Inform Investments
  • Regional Collaboration
  • Youth Support

Resources:

Why focus on Tech?  Here’s why…

Key Facts:

  • Since 2015, we’ve focused on Lane County’s tech sector, which includes around 616 firms in software publishing, data processing, and electronic manufacturing.
  • By 2021, these firms employed 3,693 people with a total payroll over $312 million.
  • The average annual wage in tech is $84,534, compared to the county’s all-industry average of $52,596.
  • Projected 22% employment growth in tech from 2020 to 2030, which 3,889 job openings expected.

Initiatives:

  • Talent Retention: Experience Oregon Tech
  • Tech Community Building
  • Advocacy
  • Events including the Big Mix, Hack for a Cause, and TAD Talks.

Learn More:

Why focus on Food and Beverage?  Here’s why…

Key Facts:

  • Since 2017, we’ve focused on Lane County’s Food and Beverage Manufacturing sector, which includes over 163 companies.
  • This sector employs 4,027 people with a total payroll over $211 million.
  • Projected 16% employment growth by 2030, adding 610 new jobs, with 5,044 job openings expected due to replacements.
  • In 2021, the average annual wage in this sector was $52,500, slightly below the county’s all-industry average of $52,596.

Initiatives:

  • Product and Value Promotion
  • Knowledge and Resource Share
  • Collaborative Development Projects
  • Events: Quarterly Food Business Unpacked, Eugene Food Startup Weekend, and Hiring/Job Fairs

Learn More:

Why focus on Construction-Aggregate?  Here’s why…

Key Facts:

  • Since 2016, we’ve focused on Lane County’s Construction-Aggregate sector, which includes around 1,186 companies.
  • In 2021, these companies employed 8,212 people with a total payroll of $488 million.
  • Projected 11% employment growth by 2030, adding 904 new jobs, with 8,736 job openings expected due to replacements.
  • The average annual wage in this sector was $59,429 in 2021, higher than the county’s all-industry average of $52,596.
  • Most entry-level positions require only a high school diploma or less, offering well-paying opportunities with lower educational barriers.

Initiatives:

  • Industry Engagement and Collaboration
  • Youth Connection in partnership with Connected Lane County and Elevate Lane County
  • Youth Awareness: CTE Support and Expansion
  • Promoting Trade Opportunities
  • Events: Manufacturing Day, Construction Utility Career Day, Sand and Gravel Tours, High School Presentations, Hiring/Job Fairs

Learn More:

Why focus on Wood Products?  Here’s why…

Key Facts:

  • Since 2018, we’ve focused on Lane County’s Wood Products sector, including logging, forestry, and wood-based product manufacturing.
  • In 2021, this sector comprised 219 companies, employing 6,037 workers with a total payroll over $399 million.
  • The average annual wage in this sector was $66,067, higher than the county’s all-industry average of $52,596.
  • Forecasted 2% growth between 2020 and 2030 will add 102 new jobs, with 7,985 total job openings expected due to replacements.

Initiatives:

  • Industry Education: Advanced technology, safe work environments, and job diversification
  • Community Pride and Awareness
  • Youth Education in Partnership with Forest Today and Forever
  • Advocacy for Policy and Licensing Alignment
  • Events: Manufacturing Day, Oregon Logging Conference, Hiring/Job Fairs

Learn More:

Why focus on the Creatives?  Here’s why…

Key Facts:

  • Since 2019, we’ve collaborated with Lane Arts Council and ArtCity to support the Creative Sector.
  • This sector includes apparel production, art, publishing, performing arts, museums, and historical sites.
  • In 2021, the sector comprised 565 establishments, employing 4,027 people with a total payroll over $171 million.
  • The average annual wage in this sector is $52,842, slightly above the county’s all-industry average of $52,596.

Importance of the Creative Sector:

  • Creativity drives innovation and high-wage industries like design, media, city planning, manufacturing, and architecture.
  • Employers seek creative thinkers to provide innovative solutions.
  • The World Economic Forum in 2020 highlighted creativity as a top skill sought by employers.

Initiatives:

  • Build a community and network of artists across disciplines
  • Raise the perception and value of local arts
  • Improve income and opportunities for local artists
  • Promote professional development for artists and arts businesses
  • Collect data on the arts sector
  • Events: Artist Feedback Sessions, Arts Media Campaign

Learn More:

Why focus on the Transportation Sector?  Here’s why…

Key Facts:

  • Established in 2021, the Transportation Industry Sector Partnership includes truck transportation, transit, group passenger transportation, warehousing, and storage.
  • In 2021, this sector had 187 firms, employing 2,957 people with a total payroll of $151 million.
  • Projected 21% growth from 2020 to 2030, adding 602 new jobs, surpassing the overall industry average of 15%.
  • Trade, transportation, and utilities sectors are expected to grow by 11%, adding 3,200 jobs due to increased demand for transportation services and post-COVID recovery in retail trade.

Initiatives:

  • Regional CDL training through an Economic Development Association grant.
  • Future Ready Oregon Prosperity 10K Grant for CDL training in four Lane County transportation/aggregate companies.
  • Promotion of a new CDL training facility in Lane County.
  • Researching CDL training opportunities for rural Lane County businesses.
  • Ongoing driver recruitment sessions at WorkSource Oregon Lane.

Industry Champion:

  • Tyree Oil

Learn More:

  • Visit our partner: Oregon Trucking Associations (OTA)
  • Driving Prosperity, led by SOWIB in collaboration with a strategic alliance of transportation sector partners, Lane Workforce Partnership, Rogue Workforce Partnership, and transportation employers, helped 325+ Oregonians secure CDLs, boosting workforce and community strength. Special thanks to Delta Sand & Gravel Co., Lane Transit District, Aisling Truck Academy, Tyree Oil, and Jennifer Richardson for making this achievement shine! 
  • The strategic partnership was honored as one of 32 recipients nationwide to receive funding from the EDA’s Good Jobs challenge, a transformative opportunity aimed at bolstering local economies and placing an additional 50,000 workers in quality jobs through innovative training programs. 
  • Recognized by the EDA’s Good Jobs Challenge for innovative training programs.

Watch:

Why focus on the Child Care Sector?  Here’s why…

Key Facts:

  • Established in 2020, the Childcare Sector Partnership addresses the critical need for quality childcare services in Lane County.
  • The sector includes 150 licensed childcare providers, employing 1,200 individuals and contributing over $30 million in wages annually.
  • Childcare services are essential for supporting working families and the broader economy, enabling parents to participate in the workforce.

Growth and Challenges:

  • The childcare sector faces significant demand with limited supply, leading to long waiting lists and high costs for families.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges, causing many providers to close or reduce capacity.
  • Investment in childcare is crucial for economic recovery and workforce participation, especially for women and low-income families.

Initiatives:

  • Support existing child care providers by addressing workforce recruitment and retention challenges.
  • Increase awareness of the importance of quality early childhood care and education, the role of Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs), and career opportunities in the child care sector.
  • Build child care capacity by supporting quality local child care providers in scaling existing programs and helping those interested in starting a child care to build sustainable businesses.
  • Increase the cultural responsivity of child care by focusing on BIPOC providers, culturally specific organizations, and linguistically specific/diverse providers & organizations.
  • Strengthen employers’ understanding of child care benefits and support employer-based child care strategies.
  • Advocate for public policy and investments that support child care providers and families.

Learn More: