With 10 years of experience establishing more than 200 industry partnerships across the country and operating in every major sector of the economy, the National Fund for Workforce Solutions has developed a standard definition and a lists of characteristics associated with high-performing industry partnerships.
The National Fund defines an industry partnership as a dynamic collaboration of a regional group of employers— typically from a particular industry sector, but sometimes from multiple sectors or based around a set of occupations—who convene regularly with the assistance of a workforce intermediary. Employer members discuss their shared human-resources issues, exchange information about industry practices, and take specific actions to address workforce challenges.
Partnerships that are highly effective at solving workforce-development challenges tend to share the seven characteristics listed below. These characteristics are consistent with the National Fund model.
A high-performing industry partnership…
1. DEVELOPS AND MAINTAINS EMPLOYER LEADERSHIP
2. PRODUCES EXCELLENT OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYERS
3. SERVES LOW-SKILL, LOW WAGE INDIVIDUALS*
4. PROMOTES CAREER ADVANCEMENT
5. PROMOTES INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS
6. COMMUNICATES KEY INFORMATION TO STAKEHOLDERS
7. OPERATES WITH KNOWLEDGABLE STAFFING PROVIDED BY OR THROUGH AN INTERMEDIARY
*This characteristic is central to the mission of the National Fund, but it is not necessarily required for success as an industry partnership