Oklahoma’s education and workforce future is bright, industry leaders say

OKLAHOMA CITY — More work needs to be done, but the future of education and workforce in Oklahoma is bright, local leaders said at a Greater Oklahoma City Chamber event held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum on Wednesday.

To discuss the state of education and workforce in Oklahoma, Express Employment International President and CEO Bob Funk Jr. welcomed State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lindel Fields, Rose State College President Travis Hurst and Oklahoma CareerTech Director Brent Haken.

Employers are looking for soft skills, such as communication and teamwork, now more than ever, Haken said.

According to a recent study, Gen Z employees often struggle with employment and workplace success largely because of a soft-skills gap. However, Gen Z is on track to become the most well-educated generation in history, according to the Pew Research Center.

Employers also need to be clear with colleges and universities about what skills, training and degree programs they need, Hurst said.

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