Addressing workforce needs

Working to Address Our Community’s Workforce Needs

As the largest two-year community and technical college in northeastern Minnesota, LSC provides more than 90 affordable programs and services including allied healthcare, manufacturing and technical programs, continuing education and customized training for business and industry partners, and liberal arts and science courses for transfer to one of our four-year university partners. Whether students are pursuing an in-demand two year degree or attending their first couple years at LSC to save thousands of dollars before transferring to a university, many LSC alumni choose to remain in, and contribute to, our community. In most of our area’s largest industries, Lake Superior College graduates are helping meet our community’s rapidly changing and growing workforce needs.

Local Aviation Sector Soaring

A perfect example of those changing and growing workforce needs are found in our local aviation sector. Last year, the Duluth International Airport released a report indicating the number of aviation-related jobs in the Twin Ports region is now nearly 3,500, an increase of 39 percent in the past decade. Lake Superior College is working closely with many aviation partners including AAR Aircraft Services, Cirrus and Lake Superior Helicopter to help prepare that aviation workforce. Through the LSC Center for Advanced Aviation, students are being trained as aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) and professional pilots, both fields in high-demand locally and nationally.

In addition to working closely with local partners, Lake Superior College recently announced a new national partnership with Delta Air Lines. After an extensive evaluation process, Delta selected LSC as an approved partner college in training future Delta AMTs. Delta TechOps evaluated numerous AMT schools throughout the country with a goal to find colleges that are committed to meeting FAA standards and Delta’s principles of excellence to help meet the high demand for AMTs.

Preparing Our Community’s Future Workforce, Across the Sectors

Aviation is just one area where LSC alumni are helping meet local workforce demands. In dozens of other fields, LSC continues to prepare our community’s future workforce. Graduates in healthcare fields are helping fill workforce needs at local hospitals including St. Luke’s and Essentia, as well as clinics throughout the region. LSC is currently in discussions with St. Louis County and Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment regarding collaboration to address the growing opioid crisis.

In addition to a highly successful dental hygiene program, LSC is also teaming up with Hibbing Community College to offer a dental assistant program to help meet the regional shortage in that field as well.

In the growing field of cybersecurity, LSC was recently ranked among the Nation’s Top 25 Best Online Associate Degrees in cybersecurity. The program also received a Center of Academic Excellence 2Y Designation from the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.

Graduates from other in-demand programs including manufacturing, auto technician and auto body, truck driving, carpentry, accounting, and many other in-demand fields are helping fill a growing workforce shortage.

Lake Superior College strives to continue to work with local employers and community partners to ensure the training being provided matches the skill sets needed in today and tomorrow’s workforce. Together, we will ensure our graduates and our community are prepared for success.

2020 Bonding Request