Stagnant Salaries Threaten Community College's Task To Build Workforce

School officials are saying they can't keep and attract quality professors due to their inability to offer raises to their best instructors. This comes at a time where community colleges are expected to train a ready workforce, especially in manufacturing and health care.

Katie Arcieri reported on the issue for the Triad Business Journal. She paints a picture of teachers who work long overtime hours with little hope for raises. According to her research, the average community college faculty member makes around $47,000, which is lot lower than they could be making in the private sector. The problem could get worse if the legislature approves a plan to cut $59 million to state community colleges. 

"Community colleges rely solely on state funding to raise salaries and state appropriations have not risen for community college salaries, basically, at all. So their hands are tied," says Arcieri. 

Many qualified instructors are seeking work elsewhere, where they can find better paying jobs in the private sector. Arcieri says this can have broad implications for the Triad. 

"Companies are worried that if there aren't quality instructors teaching trainees that they'll have fewer qualified hires to choose from and that will impact productivity," says Arcieri, adding it could also impact whether outside companies will choose to locate in the Triad in the future.

The Business Report on 88.5 WFDD is a partnership with the Triad Business Journal. You'll find Katies Arcieri's stories and more breaking business news at Triad.Bizjournals.com.