News Release
FOR RELEASE - May 30, 2019
Contact: Aaron Ellis, Public Affairs Director, aellis@aapa-ports.org
(703) 684-5700
American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org
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To assist maritime and supply-chain logistics industries to better compete for job applicants, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) – the unified and recognized voice of America’s seaports – will co-host its first-ever Workforce Development Summit in Long Beach, Calif., June 25-27, in conjunction with the Port of Long Beach, Long Beach City College and TransPORTS, the official national industry intermediary chosen by the U.S. Department of Labor to expand registered apprenticeship in ports and the multi-modal transportation, distribution logistics industry nationwide.
The three-day summit and apprenticeship accelerator is being presented to bring together ports, educators and academics to take a close look at the workforce challenges facing port-related and goods movement logistics trades over the coming decades. More information regarding the program, registration and sponsorship availabilities is available at https://bit.ly/2PBep5f.
AAPA also has two “affiliate” sponsorships available for a special evening event aboard the USS Battleship Iowa in Los Angeles’ San Pedro Bay in conjunction with the summit on June 26.
“Our industry faces increasing challenges in filling port-related jobs that require highly skilled or specialized technical training,” said Mary Beth Long, AAPA’s vice president of external affairs. “The pool of viable candidates to fill these jobs is diminishing as other industry sectors, such as technology and manufacturing, are competing for applicants from the same job pool.”
She added: “Finding creative ways to develop the workforce is requiring ports to ramp up their efforts. From development of elementary education initiatives and internships, to apprenticeship programs and college-level curriculum, ports are playing an ever-increasing role in preparing job candidates for new opportunities in the maritime arena.”
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 2019 is the first year this century in which there are more U.S. job openings … 7 million … than there are unemployed people to fill them. This presents a large-scale skills scarcity and a major obstacle for the success of many U.S. businesses, including public port authorities and their maritime industry partners that support an estimated 30.8 million American jobs.
To attract the necessary talent, ports will not only have to showcase the long-term vocational value of the jobs available in the maritime and logistics sector, they’ll need to provide or support programs that train, up-skill and re-skill new and existing personnel rather than relying entirely on experienced candidates.
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WHO: |
American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), together with the Port of Long Beach, Long Beach City College and TransPORTS |
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WHAT: |
A 3-day summit and apprenticeship accelerator summit, with information, registration and sponsorship opportunities at https://bit.ly/2PBep5f |
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WHEN |
June 25-27, 2019 |
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WHERE: |
Long Beach City College, 4900 E Carson St., Long Beach, CA 90808 |
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WHY: |
To take a close look at port-related job recruitment and training issues and challenges, and to build partnerships and evaluate solutions. |
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MEDIA: |
Professional journalists representing bona-fide media outlets may register for complimentary access by emailing Aaron Ellis at aellis@aapa-ports.org and requesting a media badge. |
About AAPA
Founded in 1912 and recognized as the unified voice of seaports in the Americas, AAPA today represents 130 of the leading seaport authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and more than 200 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in seaports. According to IHS Markit’s World Trade Service, combined international sea trade moving through Western Hemisphere ports in 2017 totaled 4.303 billion metric tons in volume and US$2.675 trillion in value. Of that total, ports in Central and South America handled 1.741 billion metric tons of cargo valued at US$1.024 trillion, while North American ports handled 1.90 billion metric tons of goods, valued at US$2.305 trillion. To meet the growing demand for trade, the AAPA and its members are committed to keeping seaports navigable, secure and sustainable. For more information, visit www.aapa-ports.org. On Twitter: http://twitter.com/AAPA_Seaports
