Empower Mississippi, a conservative lobbying group based in Jackson, is working with policymakers on how to grow the state’s economy. During the organization’s recent conference, panelists discussed how that growth depends on a variety of improvements. Governor Tate Reeves says investments in education can prepare the future workforce. He says one investment can be towards improving trade schools.
Governor Reeves says “You can figure out a way to try to have a workforce development system wherein they can go and learn a skill such that that skill that they now have pays at a level that warrants higher pay and leads to a reason for them to reenter the workforce.”
Experts say there are many facets of education that have real-world impacts on the workforce.
During another discussion about prison reform, advocates caution that many people who are released from long incarceration sentences are unprepared to re-enter the workforce. Scott Peyton is the Mississippi Director for Right on Crime and is a former police officer. He says law enforcement should be ready to help inmates get jobs and adjust to societal changes.
“A good reentry program would involve the community, rebuilding these relationships with family, with society,” says Peyton. “It’s going to involve engaging the community and employers to remove that stigma that’s associated with individuals that have a criminal background.”
Officials say one of the main things businesses look for when coming to Mississippi is no longer tax cuts, but ensuring there is a workforce to sustain their industry.
