Educate. Engage. Employ.

Developing a workforce means addressing skills gaps, making training accessible, and fostering communication between employers and potential employees. Workforce development programs are typically public-private partnerships that connect workers with the training or educational opportunities they need to find rewarding careers while helping employers find skilled workers.

Cumberland County is one of the fastest-growing regions in Pennsylvania. As our population grows, it will continue to stress a workforce already experiencing a deficit of skilled workers in multiple sectors.

To address this issue and increase economic opportunities for employers and workers alike, CAEDC is collaborating with Cumberland County’s officials, the business community, workforce agencies, housing and transportation organizations, and educational institutions to create partnerships that identify skills shortages and develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions.

By facilitating efforts, we can:

  • Strengthen workforce services by bringing workforce needs to education and non-profit partners
  • Reduce redundancies
  • Support educational opportunities and broaden the awareness of options like Career and Technical schools & post-secondary credential programs.

Workforce Data

One of Cumberland County’s differentiators is an available workforce that is skilled, trained, and educated.

View monthly Cumberland County workforce data from the PA Center for Workforce Information & Analysis.

Partners in Workforce

CAEDC acts as a facilitator between the business community, workforce agencies, the County, educational institutions, and housing and transportation organizations to provide solutions to workforce challenges. By partnering with these groups, CAEDC can help strengthen our workforce, meet employer demands, and retain and attract employers in the County.

Workforce Training & Employment

View Cumberland County’s education partners here, including K-12, technical schools, and higher education institutions.

Employment Skills Center – Has a mission of helping people achieve personal growth and job betterment through education and training, including GED preparation, adult basic education, English as a Second Language, Nurse Aid Training, and Workforce Development.

PA CareerLINK Cumberland County – Helps employers find skilled employees and job seekers find training to meet employer demands. PA CareerLINK also helps fund employment skills programs.

Emerge Education – Delivers workforce development outcomes that fuel organizational and individual growth by forging partnerships with leading companies, universities, and institutions to create impactful educational pathways.

The Manufacturers Association – Member services & benefits include self-insured employee health plans, education and training, advocacy for workers to government and business leaders, workforce development for new and existing employees, HR resources, business surveys, newsletters, and networking opportunities in regional business communities.

Social Services

Community CARES (50 West Penn St., Carlisle): This organization’s mission is to serve and strengthen the community by providing emergency shelter, resources, and supportive services to individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Hope Station (149 W. Penn St., Carlisle) – Programs include Literary and Arts after-school assistance, Youth program leadership, Kids Cafe, Keep Hope & Summer Scholarships

Maranatha-Carlisle (20 N. Hanover Street, Suite 202) – Provides Financial Management Services to help people achieve and maintain financial stability. A budget is developed to be sure that all the bills are paid on time, food and spending money are provided, and savings are created for unforeseen expenses and for goals, like a car, vacation, or something that has not been attainable previously.

Project SHARE (5 North Orange St., Carlisle) – Programs include food distribution the week of the third Thursday each month, Farmstand Distributions on Tuesdays & Thursdays, Home Delivery, Emergency Food distribution, Nutritional Education programs including cooking classes for children and adults, Lunch & Learn summer feeding program, and various life skills training.

United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County (145 S. Hanover St., Carlisle) – Provides funding to 39 programs operated by 25 partner agencies. An annual Day of Caring is organized by the United Way to allow local community members, businesses, and churches to volunteer at local nonprofits and learn more about services offered to those in need. It also runs a successful Success by 6 initiative, heating assistance program for fuel oil, kerosene, propane, and wood pellets, and prescription assistance program. The United Way’s Women United helps raise funds for local summer camp scholarships and backpack and school supplies annually.

Chambers of Commerce

Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce (212 N Hanover St., Carlisle) – Programs include connecting high school students in Carlisle and Boiling Springs with employers; providing career awareness support for Carlisle and Boiling Springs school districts; Carlisle Area Personnel Association (CAPA) meets with area employers to learn about new student-employer opportunities; and hosting Hiring our Heroes Job Fairs

Funding Partners

Partnership for Better Health (274 Wilson St., Carlisle)—Programs include grant funding to various community programs, mainly non-profit organizations; the focus is on supporting resources that promote increased minimum wage and the creation of high-quality jobs.