Workforce Recruitment & Retention: A Regional Challenge and a Collective Opportunity

By Ella Burrows  

Workforce recruitment and retention challenges are not isolated to any single community in  Kansas; they are a widespread concern across Western Kansas. Employers in every economic  sector are struggling to attract qualified applicants, and even more critically, to retain the talent  they already have. 

A significant contributor to this issue is the ongoing “brain drain,” the outward migration of  skilled, educated, and experienced individuals who leave the region for opportunities elsewhere.  This trend poses a serious threat to the long-term sustainability and growth of our communities. 

Despite this growing concern, there is hope and action through a coalition of rural advocates. 

The Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Association (WKREDA), of which Nex Tech is a proud member, is working collaboratively to address these workforce challenges head on. At WKREDA’s recent Quarterly Meeting in Dodge City, workforce development was front  and center. 

A dynamic panel of local leaders offered insight and solutions, including:

• Tucky Allen, CWDP, Kansas Workforce One 
• Maria Kane, Career Pathways Coordinator, Dodge City High School
• Kyla Keller, Workforce Coordinator, Rural Education and Workforce Alliance
• Clayton Tatro, VP of Workforce Development, Dodge City Community College 

The key takeaway from their discussion was clear: no single organization, agency, or institution  can solve this challenge alone. Building a strong, sustainable workforce in Western Kansas  requires coordinated, collaborative action from passionate stakeholders across education,  business, and community development. 

That’s where WKREDA excels. 

As a coalition of diverse members united by a shared mission, WKREDA is uniquely positioned  to lead regional workforce initiatives and drive meaningful change. Nex-Tech is proud to  contribute to this effort and remains committed to supporting innovative, local strategies that  create lasting opportunities for Western Kansas. 

One such initiative is our Technology Education Sponsorship, offered in partnership with Fort  Hays Tech North Central (formerly NCK Tech). This program fully funds tuition, tools, books,  and optional housing for students enrolled in Telecommunications and Network Technology,  Information Technology, or Heavy Equipment Operation programs. After graduation, students  gain hands-on experience by working with Nex-Tech for at least three years.

In addition, Nex-Tech partners with Nex-Generation Round-Up for Youth, a nonprofit dedicated  to inspiring local students to explore careers in rural Kansas. Through internships, career  development programs, and entrepreneurial education, Nex-Generation helps young people  envision a future in their hometowns. We’re excited to host three of their interns this summer! 

We also proudly support Nex-Generation’s mission through our customer “round-up” program,  which funds youth-focused initiatives like Young AmeriTowne of Kansas, a hands-on financial  literacy and career education program for students in grades 4–8. Developed with the Young  Americans Center for Financial Education, the curriculum teaches essential skills in economics,  entrepreneurship, government, and more. 

As a telecommunications cooperative, Nex-Tech is deeply invested not only in our business, but  also in the well-being of the communities we serve. Western Kansas is our home, and we’re  committed to helping it thrive. We’re honored to stand alongside our fellow WKREDA members  as we build a stronger, brighter future for our workforce, our communities, and the next  generation.