Metro Little Rock Workforce
Our talent pool is skilled and growing in Central Arkansas.
A region rich with industry diversity, Metro Little Rock is home to roughly 1 million people and growing. Metro Little Rock’s workforce spans a spectrum of skills that are developed through a well-connected higher education system that includes 20 universities, colleges and vocation schools. Graduates and skilled talent – from farm and production workers to high-tech professionals – frequently remain in the region thanks to an appealing and affordable quality of life. Educated and engaged, Metro Little Rock’s talent is one reason companies are choosing to get down to business in Central Arkansas.
Rankings
Workforce Resources
Training & Support for Businesses
Beyond a skilled and growing workforce, Metro Little Rock offers a number of resources to train your staff, fill your open positions and move your business forward, including:
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- Little Rock Workforce Development Board: Recognizing the need for a healthy talent pipeline, the Little Rock Workforce Development Board offers employers no-cost services, including labor market assessments, hiring assistance and rapid response for businesses expanding or downsizing. The board is the first place many Metro Little Rock employers turn to when they are filling a position.
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- Business and Industry Training Center: The University of Arkansas’ Pulaski Technical College Business and Industry Center provides workforce development programs that include customized training, workshops and leadership development.
- Training Grants: Arkansas’ Department of Career Education’s Office of Skills Development offers workforce development grants to eligible businesses. Funding is available for workforce expansion, addressing skills gaps and customized, industry-specific technical training.
Higher Education
A Robust Higher Ed Ecosystem
Topping out at 20 schools, there’s no shortage of options for high school graduates or working professionals looking to continue their education.
Metro Little Rock is host to 11 four-year colleges, including three campuses within the University of Arkansas (UA) system. UA Little Rock and UA Pine Bluff both house a College of Business centered on entrepreneurship, corporate strategies and business administration. The University of Arkansas Medical School (UAMS) develops graduates with deep knowledge of the medical and public health sciences, a boon for biotechnology employers operating in the region.
Since 1984, the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in Conway has been an accredited member of The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a recognition held by less five percent of business colleges worldwide. Two-year colleges like U of A Community Morrilton – Morrilton and Arkansas State University – Beebe-produce technically-skilled graduates ready to support a broad range of industries.