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High-Tech Job Market Growth Brings Back Nevada Office

High-tech industries moving to Nevada demand a skilled workforce. That’s why Governor Brian Sandoval’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology is back up and running again to address the state’s job market needs. Reno Public Radio’s Anh Gray has the details.

The agency was shut down several years ago during the Great Recession but, in response to changes in the state’s economy, the Nevada Legislature resurrected the office with a $5 million budget for the next two years.

“We’re diversifying our economy beyond our traditional industries, and we’re attracting high-tech companies like Tesla," Brian Mitchell says. "Existing companies like Switch are expanding, and we’re seeing a lot growth from STEM heavy sectors like IT and healthcare.”

That’s Brian Mitchell who’s now heading up the office speaking with our public radio partner, KNPR in Las Vegas.He says companies are having a hard time finding workers with STEM skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Mitchell says the needs are “jobs such as welders, or machinists, or health care technicians. We have a huge need in Nevada for diesel mechanics, and these are the kinds of jobs that our current workforce training providers just aren’t providing either enough of or at all.”

Mitchell says his office is providing challenge grants to reward schools, colleges and industries that focus on STEM-based training. One other goal is expanding access to technology in schools across the state by providing broadband to all rural communities.

Anh Gray is a former contributing editor at KUNR Public Radio.