Nevada Leaders Convene to Strengthen the Education-to-Employment Pipeline
On July 22, SHRM hosted its Education-to-Employment (E²) Initiative Nevada Roundtable in Las Vegas, bringing together employers, HR leaders, educators, workforce practitioners, elected officials, and community partners to explore how Nevada can strengthen the connection between education and employment.
The discussion was led by Emily M. Dickens, Chief Administrative Officer at SHRM, and held in partnership with Marjorie Parker, President and CEO of JobsFirst, and Jaime Cruz, Executive Director of Workforce Connections. Together, they convened cross-sector leaders to examine how stronger collaboration can better prepare learners of all ages for Nevada's evolving workforce needs.
The discussion centered on a common theme: building stronger talent pipelines requires collaboration across education, business, government, and workforce organizations. Participants explored how earlier career awareness, work-based learning, apprenticeships, internships, and employer engagement can better prepare students for both traditional and emerging career opportunities. Leaders also emphasized the importance of recognizing multiple pathways to success, including skilled trades, industry credentials, and higher education.
Throughout the conversation, employers and educators highlighted the need to strengthen alignment between classroom learning and workforce expectations. Education leaders shared efforts underway to expand career-connected learning, modernize credential programs, and build stronger partnerships with employers to ensure students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to succeed. Workforce organizations reinforced the importance of supporting learners throughout every stage of the talent pipeline—from early career exploration through reskilling and lifelong learning.
Elected officials discussed Nevada's continued investments in workforce development, including expanding career exposure for students, supporting partnerships between education and industry, and creating opportunities that strengthen the state's long-term economic competitiveness. Participants also recognized that workforce development extends beyond preparing the next generation, emphasizing the importance of investing in today's workforce through upskilling, reskilling, and employer-led training opportunities.
The conversation concluded with a call to further integrate HR professionals into workforce development efforts. As experts in talent strategy, workforce planning, and employer needs, HR leaders offer a critical perspective that can help shape policies and partnerships that better connect education with employment outcomes.
The Nevada roundtable reinforced a message that continues to emerge across SHRM's E² Initiative: strong education-to-employment pathways are built through sustained collaboration, not isolated efforts. By convening employers, educators, policymakers, and workforce leaders around one table, SHRM continues to foster employer-informed conversations that strengthen talent pipelines and help prepare the workforce of tomorrow.
To learn more about SHRM's Education-to-Employment (E²) Initiative, visit SHRM.org/advocacy.
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