Johnson County Community College is getting ready to upgrade its career and technical education programs, and it wants to know what kinds of skills and training employers are looking for.

That’s why JCCC has scheduled a series of 10 community forums for employers in the following industries:

Monday, Dec. 7, 1-3:30 p.m.             Automation

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 8-10:30 a.m.     Computer-aided drafting

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1-3:30 p.m.       Construction management

Thursday, Dec. 10, 8-10:30 a.m.        Electrical technology

Friday, Dec. 11, 8-10:30 a.m.             Electronics

Friday, Dec. 11, 1-3:30 p.m.               HVAC

Monday, Dec. 14, 1-3:30 p.m.           Welding

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 8-10:30 a.m.   Auto technology

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1-3:30 p.m.     Auto collision

Thursday, Dec. 17, 8-10:30 a.m.        Machine tool technology/ advanced manufacturing

All the forums will be held in Room 270 in the Regnier Center.

Employers will be invited to talk about the soft and technical skills needed in their industry and the types of skills shortages they see. They’ll also be asked about employment projections, both over the next six to 12 months and three to five years out.

“Employers often share that the local labor pool does not match the growing demand for jobs that require strong skills, proper training and certification, sufficient levels of education and previous work experience,” said Joe Sopcich, JCCC’s president. “Generally known as a ‘skills gap,’ this situation results from a strong demand for certain types of workers and a large supply of job seekers whose skills do not match the needs of employers.”

If you want to attend a forum, contact Julie Haas at (913) 469-3120 or jhaas@jccc.edu.