Workforce Development Highlights from the June 2025 BCAC Meeting
At the June 2025 Berks County Advocacy Council (BCAC) meeting, regional leaders in education, workforce development and business came together to tackle a critical issue: how Berks County can build and sustain a competitive, future-ready workforce.
The panel featured four key voices from the region’s workforce ecosystem: Dr. Mike Stauffer, Executive Director of the Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC); Eric Kahler, Administrative Director of the Reading-Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center (RMCTC); Dan Fogarty, Director of Workforce Development and COO of the Berks County Workforce Development Board; and Keith Stamm, Director of Workforce Development at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA). The conversation was moderated by Gavin Milligan, President of the BCTC Education Foundation Board.
Throughout the discussion, panelists shared both progress and pain points, highlighting successes in technical education and employer engagement while emphasizing the urgency of addressing demographic changes and ability constraints in the local training infrastructure.
A Workforce Landscape in Transition
Berks County continues to be recognized for its strength in technical talent and industry presence, especially in manufacturing. With nearly 17.4% of the local workforce employed in manufacturing, almost twice the national average, the sector remains a cornerstone of the region’s economic identity. Healthcare and construction also remain among the most in-demand and highest-growth sectors, offering competitive wages and stable career paths.
However, like much of the nation, Berks County is experiencing shifting population dynamics. Declining birth rates and an aging workforce have created a tightening labor market. At the same time, in-migration from states such as New York and New Jersey has introduced new families to the region, many of whom are bilingual and workforce-ready. These demographic shifts are reshaping the labor pool, requiring both training providers and employers to think more strategically about how to align opportunities with students and young professionals.
Strengthening Career & Technical Education
Career and technical education (CTE) is playing a central role in the region’s strategy to close the talent gap. Both BCTC and RMCTC have seen a significant surge in interest, highlighting the importance and popularity of hands-on, career-connected learning.
Dr. Stauffer shared that BCTC received over 1,260 applications for the 2025–26 school year, despite only having capacity for 700 to 750 students. As of the meeting, more than 950 students had already been accepted. Similarly, Kahler highlighted RMCTC’s continued growth, including 90 students actively taking part in work-based learning and a new summer internship initiative that will serve 60 rising seniors.
CTE programs in Berks County offer more than 35 pathways, from precision machining to health occupations. These programs blend technical training with soft skill development, ensuring students are both skilled and workforce-ready. One particularly innovative offering is BCTC’s NASA HUNCH program, which enables students to build real hardware for NASA; a powerful example of how local education can connect with national-scale opportunities.
Despite this solid foundation, capacity limitations remain a challenge. Healthcare programs are seeing long waitlists that risk displacing local students or forcing them to seek opportunities outside the region. As Stamm noted, retaining talent depends on increasing access to high-demand programs: “If students can’t find opportunities here, they’ll leave and take their talents elsewhere.”
Deepening Employer Partnerships
A recurring theme throughout the panel was the need for stronger, more consistent employer involvement. Industry participation is vital, not only in hiring but also in helping shape programs, offering work-based experiences and building awareness of local opportunities.
In Berks County, many employers are already leading the way. Brentwood Industries, for example, offers a rotational internship in manufacturing that provides students with a broad view of operations and hands-on exposure to various aspects of the business. This type of immersive experience not only strengthens students’ skills but also deepens their connection to local career pathways. You can take a closer look at Brentwood’s internship model here.
Employers can also support the talent pipeline by participating in Occupational Advisory Committees, providing input on curriculum development and engaging in co-op and internship programs. As the talent landscape continues to shift, proactive employer engagement will be key to keeping education aligned with industry needs.
Addressing Systemic Barriers
While Berks County benefits from a strong training infrastructure, several systemic barriers continue to limit access for some students. Math proficiency remains a challenge, and many students, especially those from linguistically diverse households, require more support in English language learning. As the county becomes more culturally and linguistically diverse, ESL programs will be critical to ensuring equitable access to opportunity.
Fogarty emphasized that many of Berks County’s newest residents are bilingual, driven and ready to contribute. With the right support in place, they represent a new generation of community leaders, professionals and skilled tradespeople. Local schools are already beginning to adapt by integrating AI literacy and digital fluency into their programs, preparing students not just for today’s jobs, but for the jobs of tomorrow.
Action Priorities for the Future
The panel concluded with a shared vision for the future: a Berks County workforce that is inclusive, adaptive, and well-prepared for economic growth. Achieving this vision will require bold action and continued collaboration.
The top priorities identified were expanding training capacity in high-demand fields like nursing, machining, and construction; upskilling current workers to meet changing technology demands; and investing in ESL and foundational skill development to better serve bilingual and ELL learners. Additionally, the panel stressed the importance of increasing employer participation in work-based learning and ensuring students have clear, visible pathways to long-term careers in Berks County.
GRCA’s Role in Workforce Development
GRCA remains committed to strengthening workforce development through data, partnerships and proactive engagement. We invite local employers, educators and stakeholders to collaborate in preparing Berks County’s next generation of workers and leaders.
To learn more or get involved, contact Stamm at kstamm@greaterreading.org.
About BCAC
The Business and Community Advocacy Council (BCAC), hosted by GRCA, serves as a collaborative network for public and private business professionals to engage in impactful advocacy. BCAC focuses on educating members about the policy-making process, identifying emerging policy issues and fostering active participation in local and statewide advocacy efforts. By promoting pro-business advocacy statements, BCAC empowers members of all sizes to navigate and shape the legislative landscape effectively. We do this by utilizing GRCA’s Pro-Business Advocacy Statements to guide the collaboration and coalition building that leads our advocacy work.
To learn more or get involved, contact Alex Roche, Director of Advocacy at aroche@greaterreading.org.