Narrative: II. a. 1. B.

(I) Employment and Unemployment (ii) Labor Market Trends. Provide an analysis of key labor market trends, including across existing industries and occupations.

Demographics of the State’s Economy

Age

The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey estimates West Virginia’s population 16 years of age and older at 1,509,212. Approximately 53.8 percent of this total is in the labor force. The employment to population ratio is 49.7 percent, while the unemployment rate for this population is 7.5 percent. West Virginians aged 16 to 19 are estimated to number 88,684, 34.2 percent in the labor force. The employment to population ratio for this group is 26.0 percent, and the unemployment rate is 24.1 percent, the highest unemployment rate among all age groups. Many teenagers have difficulty finding or keeping employment because of lack of experience, and because some employers are unwilling to hire teens due to labor laws and the inconvenience of scheduling around school functions and extracurricular activities. In 2015, the number of unemployed in this age group who exhausted their benefits was 26. This number rose only slightly to 31 in 2016. The group containing those 20 to 24 years of age is estimated at 123,410. Of these, 67.9 percent are in the labor force. The employment to population ratio for this group is 58.8 percent, while the unemployment rate is 13.3 percent. In 2015, 921 unemployed in this age group exhausted their unemployment benefits. In 2016, the number rose slightly to 942. The group containing residents 25 to 29 years old is estimated at 108,617. The labor force participation rate is 75.4 percent. The employment to population ratio is 67.3 percent, while the unemployment rate for this group is 10.6 percent. In 2015, the number of unemployed in this age group who exhausted their benefits was 1,506. This number climbed to 1,692 in 2016. West Virginians aged 30 to 34 years are estimated at 110,016. The labor force participation rate is 75.5 percent, and the employment to population ratio is 69.2 percent. The unemployment rate is 8.0 percent. The number of unemployed in this age group who exhausted their benefits in 2015 was 1,677. This number climbed to 1,799 in 2016. The age group of those 35 to 44 years old contained 228,148 residents. The labor force participation rate is 75.7 percent, the highest among the established age groups. The employment to population ratio is 70.7 percent, also the highest among the established age groups. The unemployment rate is 6.4 percent. The number of unemployed in this age group who exhausted their benefits in 2015 was 3,398. This number jumped to 3,850 in 2016, the highest among all the age groups. The group containing those ages 45 to 54 years is estimated at 252,328. The labor force participation rate is 70.5 percent, and the employment to population ratio is 66.8 percent. The unemployment rate for this age group is 5.2 percent. The number of unemployed in this age group who exhausted their benefits in 2015 was 3,247. This number climbed to 3,625 in 2016. The group containing residents ages 55 to 59 is estimated at 137,566. The labor force participation rate is 61.0 percent and the employment to population ratio is 58.5 percent. The unemployment rate is 4.2 percent. The number of unemployed in this age bracket who exhausted their benefits in 2015 was 1,455. This number climbed to 1,678 in 2016. West Virginians aged 60 to 64 years numbered 132,319, with a labor force participation rate of 42.5 percent. The employment to population ration is 40.9 percent, with an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent. The number of unemployed in this age group who exhausted their benefits in 2015 was 1,064. This number rose to 1,260 in 2016. The group containing those ages 65 to 74 years of age is estimated at 190,104, with a labor force participation rate of 18.8 percent. The employment to population ratio is 18.2 percent, and the unemployment rate is 3.4 percent, the lowest among all the age groups. The number of unemployed in this age group who exhausted their benefits in 2015 was 548. This number rose to 693 in 2016. The number of West Virginia residents ages 75 and over is estimated at 138,020. The labor force participation rate is 5.0 percent, and the employment to population ratio is 4.8 percent. The unemployment rate is 3.5 percent. The number of unemployed in this age group who exhausted their benefits in 2015 was 100. This number fell to 83 in 2016. Disability

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey, West Virginia’s total civilian noninstitutionalized population 16 years of age and older is estimated at 1,480,837, with 336,199 having a disability and 1,144,638 having no disability. Of this total noninstitutionalized population, 50.7 percent are employed. The percentage of those with some form of disability who are employed is 17.7 percent. The percentage of those with no disability who are employed is estimated to be 60.4 percent. The percent of the total civilian noninstitutionalized population not in the labor force is estimated at 45.2 percent. The percentage of those with some form of disability who are not in the labor force is 79.6 percent. The employed population age 16 and over is estimated to be 750,407. Of this number, 59,476 are estimated to have a disability, while 690,931 are estimated as having no disability. The total number of West Virginians age 25 and older is 1,271,436, with 319,784 having a disability and 951,652 having no disability. The number of West Virginians age 25 and older holding less than a high school diploma or its equivalent is approximately 14.4 percent. The percentage of West Virginians with a disability who did not graduate from high school is estimated at 27.4 percent. Those state residents age 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED, or alternative are estimated at 40.4 percent. An estimated 43.3 percent of residents with a disability are contained in this group. The percent of the population age 25 and over with some college or an associate’s degree is approximately 25.4 percent. An estimated 20.3 percent of residents with some college or an associate’s degree also have a disability. The portion of the population age 25 and older who hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher is 19.8 percent. An estimated 9.0 percent of West Virginians with a disability are contained within this group. The West Virginia population age 16 and over for whom the poverty status is determined during the 2016 survey is estimated to be 1,464,024, with 335,247 estimated to have a disability and 1,128,777 having no disability. Approximately 16.1 percent of this total civilian noninstitutionalized population is below 100 percent of the poverty level. An estimated 23.3 percent in this group report a disability. Those West Virginians at 100 to 149 percent of the poverty level registered at 10.6 percent. An estimated 15.9 percent within this group report a disability. Persons at or above 150 percent of the poverty level are estimated at 73.3 percent. An estimated 60.9 percent of persons reporting a disability are contained within this category. In 2015, the number of unemployed with a disability who exhausted their unemployment benefits was 133. In 2016, this number rose slightly to 136. Among this number, 53 individuals aged 25 to 44, and 44 individuals aged 55 to 64 exhausted their unemployment benefits in 2016. Sex and Race

West Virginia’s population 20 to 64 years of age is approximately 1,092,404, with an estimated 67.7 percent in the labor force. The employment to population ratio for this group is 62.8 percent. The estimated unemployment rate for those aged 20 through 64 is 7.1 percent. The population age 20 to 64 years broken out by sex is 546,640 males and 545,764 females. It is estimated that 72.5 percent of males are in the labor force, while 62.9 percent of females are in the labor force. The employment to population ratio for males aged 20 through 64 is 66.5 percent and 59.1 percent for females. The estimated unemployment rate for males is 8.1 percent and 5.9 percent for females. In 2015, 9,676 males exhausted their unemployment benefits. The number jumped to 11,646 in 2016. The number of females who exhausted their unemployment benefits in 2015 was 4,266. That number declined to 4,007 in 2016. West Virginia’s population 16 years and older broken out by race and Hispanic or Latino origin stood at 1,509,212 during the 2012-2016 estimate period. Of this total, 1,418,522 are White alone, 51,396 are Black or African-American alone, 2,894 are American Indian and Alaskan native alone, 11,862 are Asian alone, 497 are Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone, 4,446 are Some other race alone, and 19,595 are Two or more races. The total of Hispanic or Latino origin of any race stood at 18,557, and White alone, not Hispanic or Latino stood at 1,405,040. In 2015, the number of unemployed who exhausted their unemployment benefits was as follows: White 12,803, Black 535, Asian 72, American Indian/Alaskan Native 66, Pacific Islander 5, and Hispanic 381. In 2016, these numbers were as follows: White 14,438, Black 527, Asian 59, American Indian/Alaskan Native 53, Pacific Islander 10, and Hispanic 274. Race and the Labor Force

The estimated racial breakout of the West Virginia labor force is as follows: 53.9 % of the White alone population is in the labor force and 49.9 % is employed. 51.8% of the Black or African American alone population is in the labor force, and 45.9 % is employed. 62.8% of the Asian alone population is in the labor force, and 60.1% is employed. 37.6% of the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population is in the labor force, and 34.7% is employed. 62.0% of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone population is in the labor force and 49.9% is employed. 58.4% of Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) is in the labor force, and 54.0% is employed. 62.4% of some other race alone population is in the labor force, and 56.9% is employed. 49.0% of two or more races population is in the labor force and 43.0% is employed. Education and the Labor Force

Per the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2012-2016) table B23006, the total number of West Virginians ages 25-64 is 968,994. The estimated number who did not graduate from high school is 112,767 (11.6 %) with 39.4% in the labor force, and 33.7% employed. This group exhibits the lowest amount of employment among the categories of educational attainment. Those with a high school or equivalent education number 385,450, with 63.8% in the labor force and 58.5% employed. Those with some college or an Associate’s Degree number 265,423, with 72.3% in the labor force and 67.8% employed. 205,354 have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher with 84.4% in the labor force and 82.1% employed. The unemployment rate runs from 2.6 % for those who have a Bachelor’s degree to 14.5 % for those who have less than a high school diploma. Population

West Virginia’s overall population is expected to decline by 6,000 or 0.3% from 2015 to 2025. Regionally, it is anticipated that the most significant population decreases will occur primarily in Southern West Virginia and the Northern Panhandle, while the Eastern Panhandle and Northeastern West Virginia are expected to grow. Correspondingly, the greatest employment gains are expected in the regions experiencing population growth. Labor Force

The labor force participation rate (LFPR) in West Virginia increased slightly from 53.0% in 2015 to 53.2% in 2016, mirroring the national trend. For several decades, the state’s LFPR has been significantly (about 9%) lower than the nation but generally follows the national pattern. Per BLS projections, the U.S. labor force is projected to grow at an annual rate of 0.6, from 159.2 million people in 2016 to 169.7 million people in 2026, an increase of about 10.5 million people, slightly higher than the 2006-2016 decade. Several factors including population decline, uncertainty around population migration patterns in the coming decade*, and age composition* continue to affect the state’s projected LFPR. Workforce-related factors include the discouraged worker effect, health-related limitations, education, and retirement. Educational attainment and social factors such as the state’s opioid epidemic present challenges as well. As of 2016, West Virginia’s LFPR was the lowest among all states. *WVU Economic Summary *WVU BBER Turnover rates are another important aspect to consider in reviewing employment trends. Turnover rates can vary by industry and by a variety of demographic characteristics, such as education, race, sex, and age. In West Virginia, industry sectors with the highest average turnover rates include Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation; Administrative and Support and Waste Management.and Remediation Services; and Accommodation and Food Services. Sectors with the lowest turnover rates include Utilities, Educational Services, and Manufacturing. High turnover rates in industry sectors can indicate a number of possibilities, including, but not limited to, seasonality, short business cycles, part—time employment status, employee dissatisfaction, and health risks. Figure 14: Average Turnover Rates 2011-2015. (Bar Graph reveals a list of industries ranked from lowest to highest turnover rates for the period 2011-2015.) Among the various demographic characteristics between 2011 and 2015, turnover rates were higher among males (9.0%) compared with females (8.1%). Regarding race, turnover rates were lowest among Whites (8.3%) and Asians (9.8%); the highest turnover was among African Americans (12.0%), American Indians/Alaskan Natives (13.2%), Native Hawaiians (13.4%), and Two or More Races (13.4%). Turnover rates were highest among the age group of 14-18 years of age (29.2%) and lowest for the age group of 55-64 years of age (4.7%). Also, higher levels of education correspond with lower rates of job turnover, with the average turnover rate of those with less than a high school diploma at 9.4 percent compared with 6.2 percent for those with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher. From a regional perspective, overall employment turnover rates ranged from 9.1 percent in Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act Region 1, to 7.9 percent in Workforce Investment and Opportunity Region 5. Figure 15: Average Turnover Rates for WIOA Regions 2011-2015. (Bar Graph reflects turnover rates for the seven WIOA regions for the years 2011-2015.) Occupations Among the seven WIOA regions in West Virginia, occupations anticipating the greatest annual growth rates between 2014 and 2024 are largely healthcare-related. This trend can be attributed to the state’s aging population, as well as the state’s high concentration of health issues including obesity and smoking. Many of the occupations with declining growth rates are those linked to changing technologies and declining industries. Occupations such as Telephone Operators and Data Entry Keyers are declining due to advances in technology, while declines in occupations such as Mine Shuttle Car Operators and Continuous Mining Machine Operators are due to both technological advances and competition from alternative forms of energy production. WIOA Region 1 Occupational Employment Projections 2014-2024 The top five occupations with the greatest annual growth rate within WIOA Region 1 are all healthcare-related. These include Home Health Aides; Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary; Personal care Aides; Physical Therapy Assistants; and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. Occupations with the greatest rate of annual decline in the region include Fallers; Log Graders and Scalers; Data Entry Keyers; Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service; and Roof Bolters, Mining WIOA Region 2 Occupational Employment Projections 2014-2024 Three of the top five occupations with the greatest annual growth rate within WIOA Region 2 are healthcare-related. The top five consists of Personal Care Aides; Diagnostic Medical Sonographers; Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary; Computer Systems Analysts; and Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners. The five occupations with the greatest annual rate of decline include Mine Shuttle Car Operators; Continuous Mining Machine Operators; Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service; Chemical Plant and System Operators; and Data Entry Keyers. WIOA Region 3 Occupational Employment Projections 2014-2024 Healthcare Occupations lead the pack in the list of occupations with the greatest annual growth rate in WIOA Region 3. This group contains Occupational Therapy Assistants; Diagnostic Medical Sonographers; Medical Equipment Repairers; Personal Care Aides; and Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary. Occupations leading declines in Region 3 include Data Entry Keyers; Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service; Computer Operators; Legal Secretaries; and Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Workers WIOA Region 4 Occupational Employment Projections 2014-2024 Occupations with the most annual growth in Region 4 include Home Health Aides; Personal Care Aides: Physician Assistants; Physical Therapy Assistants; and Industrial Machinery Mechanics. The greatest annual rate of decline will be seen among Floral Designers; Butchers and Meat Cutters; Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants; Roofers; and Industrial Truck and tractor Operators. WIOA Region 5 Occupational Projections 2014-2024 Occupations with the greatest annual growth rate within Region 5 include Personal Care Aides; Diagnostic Medical Sonographers; Physical Therapists; Home Health Aides; and Physical Therapist Assistants. Occupations with the greatest declines in the annual growth rate include Data Entry Keyers; Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service; Conveyor Operators and Tenders; File Clerks; and Meter Readers, Utilities. WIOA Region 6 Occupational Projections 2014-2024 Occupations with the greatest annual growth rate in Region 6 include Home Health Aides; Diagnostic Medical Sonographers; Information Security Analysts; Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners; and Operations Research Analysts. Occupations with the greatest declines in the growth rate include Data Entry Keyers; Fallers; Mine Shuttle Car Operators; Meter Readers, Utilities; and Floral Designers. WIOA Region 7 Occupational Projections 2014-2024 The top five occupations with the greatest annual growth rate in Region 7 include Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners; Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists; Computer Systems Analysts; Software Developers, Applications; and Marriage and family Therapists. Occupations with the greatest declines in annual growth in the region include Data Entry Keyers; Computer Operators; Meter Readers, Utilities; Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service; and Butchers and Meat Cutters. (iii) Education and SkiII LeveIs ofthe Workforce. Provide an analysis of the educationaI and skiII leveIs ofthe workforce.

Education

Over the coming decade, it is expected that West Virginia’s job market will trend toward jobs that require more postsecondary education. Presently, based on 2016 data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), West Virginia ranks last in percent of population age 25 years or older with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. As of 2016, 20.8 percent of West Virginians 25 and older have a Bachelor’s degree or better compared to 31.3 percent nationally. Based on WorkForce West Virginia’s employment projections (2012—2022), it is expected that jobs requiring a Bachelor’s degree or higher will increase 11,613 (Table A). More broadly, the trend is toward more education, and the demand for jobs necessitating any postsecondary education will be greater than jobs that do not. Categorically, occupations requiring a High School Diploma or less are anticipated to grow by 18,322, while jobs requiring formal education beyond high school will expand by 20,790. Figure A: Projections by Level of Education (Figure A shows employment projections based on eight education levels for the year 2022.) Beyond formal secondary and postsecondary education, some occupations require additional on— the—job—training. In general, it is expected that jobs requiring this additional training will comprise a slightly smaller share of the total employment by 2022. Table B depicts the expected change by job training between 2012 and 2022. For most categories, the relative share of employment is expected to change only slightly. It is notable that jobs requiring no additional training are anticipated to make—up a larger share of the employment. Figure B: Projections by Training (Figure B shows projected employment based on six levels of job training for the year 2022.) Education attainment scales with both poverty status and median annual earnings. As educational levels increase, earnings increase, and consequently poverty decreases. In Table C, data from the U.S. Census Bureau depict the relative poverty levels by educational attainment. Across-the-board, rates are higher for females than for males. Figure C: Poverty Rate by Education Level (Figure C depicts the poverty rate for West Virginians broken out by sex and four levels of education.) Similarities can be observed when comparing median annual earnings by educational attainment (Table D). Again, higher levels of education correlate to higher levels of earnings, with females earning comparatively less in all categories. Figure D: Median Annual Earnings by Education Level (Figure D depicts median annual earnings for West Virginians broken out by sex and levels of education.) Based on 2014 Census data, levels of unemployment correlate with levels of education (Table E). The higher the level of education, the higher the level of participation in the labor force and, conversely, the lower the rate of unemployment. Individuals with less than a high school diploma or equivalent had an unemployment rate (13.1%), nearly six times higher than individuals with a Bachelor’s degree or higher (2.3%), and more than twice the unemployment rate of individuals with only some college or an Associate’s degree (5.9%). Figure E: Employment Status by Education Level (Figure E depicts employment status of West Virginians based on educational attainment.) Also, as education levels increase, job turnover rates decrease. Using combined Census and BLS data from 2nd quarter of 2010 through 3rd quarter 2014, an average turnover rate was calculated (Figure F). Figure F: Turnover Rate by Education Level (Figure F depicts turnover rates for West Virginians based on four levels of educational attainment.) The educational makeup of West Virginians in the labor force, specifically those who were employed as of the 4th quarter, 2014, varies considerably by region of the state. As a whole, between 1997 and 2014, the number of West Virginia job holders increased at all levels of education. Over this 17- year period, jobholders with less than a high school diploma increased by 18.9 percent, while those with a High School diploma or equivalent increased by a slim margin of 0.48 percent. West Virginia job holders with either some college or an Associate degree increased by 12.33 percent, and jobholders with a Bachelor’s degree or higher increased by a mere 2.82 percent. Regionally, the percent change in employment by education varied considerably by region. Table G depicts how these changes occurred over the 17-year period. The areas with the largest changes in positive growth were Region 6 (North Central WV) and Region 7 (Eastern Panhandle). Both regions have also experienced the greatest population growth over the past decade, and are anticipated to have the strongest population growth in West Virginia through at least 2020. In terms of jobholders with at least some college completion, Region 7 has experienced the fastest growth, followed moderately by Region 6. Figure G: Regional Change in Employment by Education (Figure G is a chart depicting the percent change in education by WIOA regions from 1997 through 2014.) Conversely, Region 4 (Northwestern WV) and Region 5 (Northern Panhandle) experienced an increase in jobholders with less than a high school diploma only, with all other levels of education having decreased. The picture for Region 3 (Kanawha County) was mixed, with increases in jobholders with less than a high school diploma and some college or an Associate degree, and declines in those with Bachelor’s degrees and a high school diploma or equivalent. Region 1 (Southeastern WV) saw modest increases in jobholders with all levels of education, while Region 2 (Southwestern WV) experienced slightly less growth at all education levels except a high school diploma or higher, which declined slightly. For a map of West Virginia’s Workforce Regions see Figure 16. (iv) Describe apparent ‘skill gaps’. The term Skills Gap, defined as “a significant mismatch between the needs of employers for skills and the current capabilities of available workforce”, has been a constant source of conversation and debate for many years. The unemployment rate is relatively high in West Virginia, and businesses have expressed concerns about finding skilled workers to fill vacancies. 1. Communication Skills Communication skills are expected to have the greatest demand in West Virginia through 2022. Those specific skills are Active Listening, followed by Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Service Orientation, and Reading Comprehension (Figure H). Active Listening may be defined as “giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions appropriately, and not interrupting at inappropriate times”26. This simple and basic skill is necessary in many occupations, especially in healthcare and other service—related fields that require good communication and comprehension between service provider and customer. Over the next ten years, employers will need at least 452,472 employees with this skill, while the current supply is 421,376. This means we need more than 30,000 people to acquire or develop this skill to meet the expected demand. The occupational group with the highest demand for this skill falls mostly in healthcare support occupations, with 12,000 workers, who share 38.75% of the total need. Figure H: Skills Gap 2012—2022 (Figure H depicts the current and projected demand for selected skills through 2022 The state’s workforce will require more than 66,000 additional employees to develop Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, and Service Orientation skills by 2022. These communication skills depict a substantial need, particularly in the healthcare support industry, in which occupations related to customer services are in high demand. Reading Comprehension is also an issue for many West Virginians in the workforce. This skill refers to the person’s ability to read and understand information presented in written form. Good readers interact with text, making and validating predictions, and connecting the text events to their knowledge and experiences. Generally, this skill, together with Critical Thinking and Writing are acquired during K—12 education. Figure I: Skills Gap Distribution (Figure I depicts skills gaps by WIOA regions.) Figure I depicts how skills gaps vary by region. While Active Listening is still the highest need in all WIOA regions, the demand for other skills vary. Social Perceptiveness and Service Orientation take second and third places in almost all WIOA regions. The need for Speaking and Reading Comprehension skills rank second and third respectively in Kanawha County (WIOA Region 3). Figure J: Gain/Loss of Workers in Each WIA Region/Statewide by Educational Attainment Level 2008—2014 (Figure J presents gains and losses of workers in each WIOA region by educational attainment for the period 2008-2014.) 3. Knowledge and Ability also create a big effect on Skills gaps As we examine the skills gap, it will be important to understand the relationship among Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Knowledge is a level of information or experience that an individual must have to be qualified for a position. Skills are learned or trained, and can be developed through the transfer of knowledge. Abilities are the enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance. A person’s ability can affect their capacity to perform the job. Many recruiters use KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) to determine who the best applicants are among candidates. Among West Virginia’s workforce, the greatest gap in knowledge is Customer and Personal Service (see Figure K). More than 30,000 positions will be needed by 2022 that require competency with the principles and processes for providing customer and personal services; including customer needs assessment and evaluation of customer satisfaction. English, surprisingly, is the second—highest knowledge gap requirement. The growing healthcare sector needs at least 10,000 employees who have knowledge in Psychology and Medicine and Dentistry. The occupations that require most Medical knowledge are Registered Nurses (2,543 employees), Licensed Practical Nurses (1,174 employees), and Medical Assistants (783 employees). An estimated 8,000 Personal Care Aides, Home Health Aides, and Customer Service Representatives are in positions that require knowledge of Customer and Personal Service and English. Figure K: Knowledge Gaps (Table K depicts projected knowledge gaps for the period 2012 through 2022. By 2022, West Virginia employers will need more than 30,000 employees who have the ability to comprehend and express information orally (see Figure L). Additionally, people with Problem Sensitivity will also be in high demand (27,885 in total). Aside from communication abilities, people with visual acuity will be in demand (20,362 employees). Figure L: Ability Gaps (Figure L depicts projected ability gaps for the period 2012 through 2022.) Skills Gaps for West Virginia (2012—2022) The skill with greatest expected demand and gap is active listening. Literacy and communication skills top the list, comprising four out of the top five skills. Active listening is followed by social perceptiveness, speaking, service orientation and reading comprehension. The complete list skills projected to be in demand can be found in Figure H. Content skill ranking for most of the WIOA Regions follow the same pattern as the state. Active listening is, by far, the highest demand skill across all WIOA Regions. All four communication skills (i.e., active listening, social perceptiveness, speaking, and reading comprehension) rank in the top five in each region with the exception of Region 6, where critical thinking moved into the top 5, replacing reading comprehension. Appendix A. Knowledge O*Net generates 33 requirements related to knowledge for all occupations in United States as shown in Figure M. Figure M: Knowledge Requirements (Figure M provides definitions of O*Net knowledge terms.) B. Skills Like knowledge, skills can be learned and developed with experience. More than that, through study, a skill represents a person’s ability to develop knowledge, enhancing his or her capacity to perform the work. Each occupation requires different skills with different levels of importance. Generally, employers evaluate their employees’ skills based on 6 groups: Basic, Social, Resource Management, System, Technical, and Complex Problem Solving Skills (Figure N). Figure N: Skill Requirements (Figure N provides definitions of O*Net Skills terms.) C. Ability Ability is what someone is capable of doing. Employers assess their employees’ ability based on 52 elements in 4 groups (Figure O). Figure O: Ability Assessment (Figure O provides definitions of O*Net Ability terms.)