What Does Charleston's Future Hold For Young Professionals?

Charleston SC

02 April, 2022

8:52 AM

Description

Press release from the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce: March 25, 2022 A major pandemic, supply chain crisis, labor shortages, and international war. If the past few years have taught us anything, it is that in today's professional world, it is necessary to prepare for an unknown future. But what does that future look like in our local market of Charleston and what can young professionals do today to prepare for tomorrows challenges? These were just a few of the topics discussed at the Charleston Young Professionals event this past Thursday. McCain Kerr, of First National Bank, moderated an all-star panel from Charleston's automotive manufacturing, healthcare, infrastructure, supply chain, and technology industries. The panel joined the Charleston Young Professionals group to discuss what challenges they see for the future generation of leadership in Charleston, as well as provide insight on how to approach potential challenges. With such a diverse panel to discuss these topics, we were able to see that many of today's challenges span across multiple industries and will require strong, collaborative efforts in order to create and implement solutions. For example, when asked about the biggest barrier to positive growth in the Charleston area, Dr. Kimberly Butler Willis of GOODSTOCK Consulting, identified the link between labor shortages in the healthcare and manufacturing industries, as well as the need for better access to technology in rural areas. Dr. Butler challenged us to imagine trying to find local job postings, requiring children to learn remotely, or even order supplies from Amazon without adequate access to the internet. Her point, in a technological driven future, access for all is critical. This press release was produced by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author's own.