And while the Pipeline involves many partners, it has one simple goal: Guiding young people and adults into careers that match their personal interests, directing them to the right education path and finally connecting them with the employment needs of Kansas businesses.

Using a free internet based assessment tool, people can identify their interests and aptitudes, then connect with either educational programs or job opportunities in Kansas. Partners include businesses, workforce centers, and the state’s public and private education system, community and technical colleges, as well as universities.

For students, this one-stop shop allows young people to discover their interests, learn about careers, plan for education, and connect with employers. Parents find it to be useful for helping their children understand their strengths and what to consider when exploring career options.

For adult job seekers, the assessment evaluates interests and skills, connects them with a network of workforce centers and employers who are seeking employees with their interests.

For Kansas businesses, the Kansas Career Pipeline provides employees who have the interest, skills and work values that make a bottom-line difference for their companies and industries.

And for the city, region, and state, the Kansas Career Pipeline is an economic development tool. By directing people into the careers that are right for them, it is building a skilled and motivated workforce to answer the workforce crisis facing us now and in the future. Serving fifth graders through adults, this tool makes career planning available at the click of a mouse. More importantly, however, it makes career dreams a reality for individuals, lets businesses find the right employees, and ultimately creates a motivated workforce pipeline that contributes to the economic vitality of the state.

For more information, go to www.kansascareerpipeline.org.