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Asheville committee hears regional workforce briefing; emphasis on recovery dollars, housing and career pathways
Summary
Land of Sky’s Nathan Ramsey told the Asheville Planning, Economic Development & Environment Committee that the regional labor market faces continued demand despite post-Helene disruption, citing about 20,000 local job openings and urging investments in earn-and-learn pathways. Council members asked how recovery dollars and data tools can be targeted to grow local talent.
Nathan Ramsey, executive director of the Land of Sky Regional Council, told the Asheville City Planning, Economic Development & Environment Committee on Nov. 18 that the region’s workforce challenges and opportunities are closely tied to recent storm impacts, housing costs and industry mix.
Ramsey opened by framing workforce development as a collaborative effort between cities, community colleges and employers, saying it’s “about the power of partnerships.” He told the committee the Asheville metro is roughly a $30,000,000,000 economy, has added “about a 100,000 people in the last two decades,” and that Hurricane Helene caused “about $60,000,000,000 in damages,” a disruption that still shapes labor-market conditions.
Why it matters: Ramsey said the region has returned some jobs after the storm but remains above typical unemployment levels in several sectors and faces persistent tightness in occupations that support health care, construction and hospitality. He told council members the region currently has an…
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