International conference spotlights Nevada’s innovative career mapping research
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Wed, 11/13/2024 - 6:45am
CARSON CITY — A new paper co-authored by Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) team members showcases pioneering research into the integration of technology and workforce training in Nevada.
The paper, “Revolutionizing Career Exploration: How Simulation and Immersive Technologies Are Boosting Labor Market Literacy Rates in Nevada’s Individual Career Mapping Framework,” was published in the 17th Annual International Conference of Education, Research, and Innovation (iCERi) proceedings, contributing to an influential body of research for workforce development and career technical education activities across the globe. It was written by GOED’s Karsten Heise and Tammy Westergard; contractors Jahairy Rivera and Michelle Rebaleati; Lifeliqe’s Co-Founder Mark Andersen and Michal Mizerak; and Grantcycle’s Ansley Fender.
Andersen joined Westergard, GOED’s senior workforce librarian in residence, to present findings at the conference. The paper defined the problem of "low labor market literacy" – recognizing that many people struggle to understand the complexities of the job market, much like they do with other forms of literacy – and introduced the Individual Career Mapping (ICM) process as an innovative solution. This process leverages advanced educational technology, including virtual reality content for immersive career exploration, and a powerful assessment tool that measures individuals' computational thinking capacity, which is essential for today's workforce. By approaching labor market literacy like digital or financial literacy, the ICM provides a clear, step-by-step path to understanding the labor market, a complex problem now made solvable through this innovative model.
“Ultimately, economic growth does to a large extent depend on how efficaciously industry's labor demand is matched with the skills and interests of job seekers and that in turn depends on increasing labor market literacy, which however remains a major gap in today’s tech-driven world,” said Westergard. “Through Nevada's innovative Individual Career Mapping process, which integrates tools like virtual reality and a computational thinking assessment, we are equipping people with a clear path to making sense of the job market and accessing meaningful careers.”
“Navigating all the career options and possibilities is like a maze, so over the past three years our team has developed a unique methodology to provide each job seeker – especially those from traditionally underserved communities – with job market information in a user-friendly and engaging way,” said Heise, GOED’s senior director of strategic programs and innovation. “Not only are we able to provide the necessary information in such a way that it gives rise to individual agency but also so that its effectiveness can be rigorously tested by our academic partners.”
The iCERi Conference, whose audience included professionals in workforce training and education, provided an ideal forum for evaluating ICM’s impact on career-readiness skills. The study, published on Nov. 10, presented compelling evidence that advanced technologies such as virtual reality can substantially enhance education and labor market literacy.
ICM is already integrated into Nevada’s public libraries and workforce development centers, offering accessible labor market information and training bootcamps developed by GOED. This program not only delivers virtual reality simulations but also includes a career-readiness assessment measuring computational thinking, developed from Nevada's NCLab. This equips participants with essential skills for career decision-making.
“ICM's virtual reality simulations are revolutionizing career exploration across Nevada,” said Joy Holt, Carson City Library director.
“These immersive tools are helping our community gain valuable, practical insights and get into good, quality jobs,” said Forrest Lewis, North Las Vegas Library District executive director.
The ICM program is already proving to be an asset in education. In May, nine students from Elko County School District successfully completed an ICM process, leading to a 100% pass rate on the National Career Readiness Certificate exams.
Under GOED’s leadership, ICM is expanding to serve more Nevadans and will support federally funded initiatives under the CHIPS and Science Act. In partnership with Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, additional testing is underway to further validate ICM’s effectiveness.
"As a researcher, I believe that framing the challenge as improving individuals' labor market literacy is crucial, and approaching the solution in a way similar to how we teach basic literacy – the ability to read, write, and think critically – is key, as the world of work is equally, if not more, complex,” said Dr. Xue (Cher) Xing, associate professor and program coordinator of career-technical and postsecondary education at UNLV. “Leveraging virtual reality technology with precision offers broad-reaching implications, allowing us to empower individuals, especially vulnerable populations, to navigate this complexity, increase their labor market literacy, and build specific STEM skills needed for meaningful careers. This tailored guidance and strategic focus, delivered through the trust of libraries, not only provides technical skills but also fosters career-readiness, propelling individuals toward their career aspirations for free while equipping them to meet the demands of the 21st-century workforce.”
Created during the 2011 session of the Nevada Legislature, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development is the result of a collaborative effort between the Nevada Legislature and the Governor’s Office to restructure economic development in the state. GOED’s role is to promote a robust, diversified and prosperous economy in Nevada, to stimulate business expansion and retention, encourage entrepreneurial enterprise, attract new businesses and facilitate community development.
