Kirkwood Community College has opened its Skills Survey 2027, aiming to collect input from employers across its seven-county service area on projected workforce needs through 2027.
The survey, available at www.kirkwood.edu/skills2027, is open through August 29 and is intended for businesses of all sizes and sectors. The questionnaire takes about 15 minutes to complete and includes both multiple-choice and text-entry questions.
According to Kirkwood officials, results from the survey will be used to identify education and credentialing needs by industry sector, support regional workforce development efforts, and help shape future policy and talent strategies.
“This is a powerful way for us to hear directly from employers and help ensure our programming remains relevant, responsive, and aligned with the real-world demands of our region’s economy,” said Cheri Kampman, Kirkwood’s Vice President of Continuing Education and Training Services.
Kirkwood has used similar reports for more than 10 years to provide data to regional partners and guide workforce planning. The information collected from this year’s survey will reflect talent needs from January 2025 through December 2027.
Quinn Pettifer, Director of Corporate Training Services, said the data will support future programming decisions and long-term workforce planning.
“By receiving the data from this survey, we can build stronger talent pipelines that benefit both our students and the communities we serve,” Pettifer said.
Kirkwood Continuing Education reports nearly 30,000 annual enrollments in a variety of classes, including industry certifications, career development, and personal enrichment. Over the past two decades, its Continuing Education & Training Services division has supported the creation of more than 14,000 new jobs, according to the college.
Survey findings will be compiled and presented in aggregate later this year.
