Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce is the Connecting Link

Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce works to connect area employers to talent.

By Bill Lewis on September 21, 2021

Worcester has a full pipeline of talented workers, thanks to the presence of colleges and universities and numerous technical schools whose graduates increasingly choose to stay in the city and launch their careers.

Matching them with opportunities at local companies and making sure they have the skill sets to help them and their future employers succeed is a mission taken on by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. You could call it a labor of love.

“We have a very focused effort and programs that work with our colleges and universities, vocational-technical schools and various job training programs to facilitate introductions with and awareness of our member businesses across all sectors. The single biggest issue we hear from our members regardless of size or sector is access to a talented and trained workforce,” says Timothy P. Murray, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.

The Chamber’s efforts to connect employers with the workforce include workshops to assist member businesses in setting up meaningful internship programs that involve local college students.

“Additionally, we have run a summer program called Hire Ed that helps prepare college students for what is expected of them in today’s workplace. We have also done outreach to our local high schools to make sure students not attending college are aware of job training and job search services in the region,” Murray says.

“Undoubtedly, the presence of approximately 35,000 college students and six vocational-technical schools has been a significant factor in fueling the economic development momentum that is underway in Worcester and the Central Massachusetts region,” he says.