Webinars offer orientation for new stakeholders and staff

October 25, 2013 By

Would your new employees benefit from excellent online training about the workforce system? What about your Workforce Investment Board members, or even experienced employees?

Workforce3one from the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration recently published online and on-demand training webinars with the choice to learn from these three perspectives. Modules include:

  • Module 1: Introduction to State and Local Workforce System Governance
  • Module 2: The Mechanics of Workforce Funding
  • Module 3: Workforce System Accountability
  • Module 4: Wagner-Peyser Act and Reemployment Services
  • Module 5: Workforce Investment Act Overview
  • Module 6: Workforce System Services for Employers
  • Module 7: Workforce System Scenario: Job Seeker
  • Module 8: Workforce System Scenario: Employer Services

The training is now online and is best viewed with a high-speed connection as the webinars are rich in content.

Filed Under: Featured, News, Research, Training & Education

Transitioning skills in disaster-impacted communities

October 24, 2013 By

RYE-2013-Webinar-Logo-125-x-125-VertThe International Economic Development Council plans to showcase Missouri’s experience in disaster recovery in a webinar November 20th. This virtual event provides a how-to introduction on developing workforce training programs in disaster-impacted communities.

A major disaster can disrupt market flows and impact local businesses in ways beyond the imagination. Either temporary business closures or permanent business relocations can cause major redundancies for the local workforce as well as discourage new talent from moving into the impacted communities. The situation can also exacerbate difficulties faced by disadvantaged populations.

This webinar will explore how economic developers can work with workforce development organizations to develop and implement new training programs that are based on changing market realities caused by the event. Learn about the process to identify skills to address business needs that help to strengthen the region’s recovery and growth prospects. Speakers will present case examples from Joplin, Missouri following their EF-5 tornado and Katrina- impacted communities.

Attendees will learn:

  • How to leverage additional federal funds to support workforce systems already in place
  • About best practices to engage private employers in your workforce training efforts
  • Strategies to tie disaster recovery workforce initiatives to growing industrial sectors/clusters within your region.

Presenters include Jasen Jones with the Southwest MO WIB and Barbara Johnson, one of the leaders in the Katrina recovery effort.  More information on the webinar and how to participate may be found online at http://restoreyoureconomy.org/developing-workforce-training-programs-webinar/.

Filed Under: Featured, Initiatives, News, Research, Training & Education

Real estate magazine profiles Missouri CWRC

July 11, 2013 By

siteselmagcwrcjuly2013Site Selection magazine’s July 2013 edition includes a profile on Missouri’s Certified Work Ready Communities initiative.  Site Selection provided background on CWRC, Joplin’s success in rebounding from the tornado disaster, and plans for the future. The article includes a graphic on the first 14 counties to participate in Missouri. The article runs on pages 139-140. The digital edition of the magazine is available as a web-based application online.

Site Selection magazine is an internationally circulated business publication covering corporate real estate and economic development. Published six times a year by Conway Data Inc., the magazine reaches more than 43,000 qualified subscribers with timely news, information and analysis on significant industrial facility expansion activity and site location trends worldwide. Subscribers are high-level corporate executives with decision-making responsibility for business locations.

Filed Under: Featured, Initiatives, News, Research

Sequester impacts analyzed for workforce development

July 1, 2013 By

maze600x400In May‐June 2013, the National Association Association for Workforce Development (NAWDP) reached out to the workforce development field to determine the specific impact that current sequestrations were having at the local level. The 139 respondents also provided written comments that currently are being analyzed by NAWDP and provide additional insight.

While 29% of the respondents indicated little direct changes as a result of sequesters, most indicated significant impacts. Particularly troubling is the significant reduction in services and training to job seekers, which comes at a time when policymakers are calling for an increased investment in training and employers are indicating a difficult time finding skilled talent.

Impacts studied include:

  • Layoffs, furloughs, and reduction in professional development
  • Training and core services
  • Closures and reduction of hours at one-stop centers

The survey results may be viewed online directly from NAWDP.

Filed Under: Featured, News, Public Policy, Research, Training & Education

New report makes data work for community-based workforce programs

June 14, 2013 By

A new report from the national Benchmarking Project offers an unprecedented opportunity to examine the results of community-based organizations’ (CBOs) efforts to help jobseekers find and keep employment.

The Benchmarking Project launched in 2004 to understand what “good” performance looks like for different types of workforce development programs. The aggregate data from 332 programs in 200 organizations – mostly CBOs – represent the largest collection of outcomes information to date for programs serving America’s disadvantaged job seekers.

The report, “Apples to Apples: Making Data Work for Community-Based Workforce Development Programs”, presents themes from analysis of the data and offers meaningful comparison groups for programs with different characteristics. While the data does not “prove” the effectiveness of any one approach, it can help funders, providers and other stakeholders set more realistic expectations for performance and make better-informed decisions about program design. The report also provides recommendations for how workforce funders can better support the use of data to improve results.

Public/Private Ventures (P/PV) launched The Benchmarking Project with funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to create resources for performance improvement that could be used by workforce providers and funders. With P/PV’s closing in 2012, The Benchmarking Project entered into partnership with Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW).

CSW believes the Benchmarking work is an essential part of strengthening local and national capacity to respond to existing and emerging workforce needs. We hope you will find this information useful in your work.

Filed Under: Featured, News, Public Policy, Research, Training & Education

NCRC helps Missourians work sooner, earn more

May 17, 2013 By

NCRC Workforce MeasuresMany advocates of credential based hiring have long held that jobseekers will earn higher wages or salaries commensurate to higher scores on credentials such as the National Career Readiness Certificate. Frank Neely from the WIB of Southwest Missouri led joint efforts with Mayo Enterprises and the Missouri Division of Workforce Development to put this theory to the test.

The research partnership examined the average earnings, entered employment, and retention rates by NCRC and education levels of Adult enrolled clients over three years.  The results quantifiably demonstrate the benefits to jobseekers that choose to demonstrate their skills via the completion of such assessments.  The WIB published the monograph now available for download detailing the performance for NCRCs throughout Missouri.

The research focused on customers of the Missouri one-stop career center system comparing job seekers with the NCRC and those without.  While it’s natural to conclude that education advancement improves average earnings, additional education coupled with the NCRC propels earning potential even further, according to the report.  Three years worth of data also demonstrates that workforce center customers with higher NCRC scores are more likely to get back to work.  Employment Retention, the measure for the likelihood that customers stay in a job longer, also shows improvement with each level of the NCRC, though not as dramatic as the Entered Employment and the Average Earnings measures.

The report acknowledges special contributions by Dr. Merrilea Mayo of Mayo Enterprises and a lead strategist for New Options New Mexico.  Brenda Ancell and Roger Baugher from the Missouri Division of Workforce Development provided valuable data sourcing and analysis for the project as well.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Featured, Initiatives, News, Public Policy, Research, Training & Education

Fundaments of Economic Development workshop connects community leaders

February 22, 2013 By

Elected officials and community leaders can gain insights and strategies for local economic development through workshops made available across Missouri. The Fundamentals of Economic Development workshops present an overview of the economic development process as well as exploring trends and emerging issues.

Workshop organizers designed the events to give the non professional a basic understanding of economic development principles, strategies, and tools. Participants explore the process of economic development learn where to turn for assistance. The format is adaptable to individual and community needs. The workshop targets local elected officials, boards of local chambers and economic development organizations, community volunteers, and others interested in learning more about the process of community economic development.

The Fundamentals of Economic Development workshop is an outreach of the Missouri Economic Development Council’s Professional Development Committee together with the ExCEED Community Economic and Entrepreneurial Development program at the University of Missouri Extension.  A scan of the tri-fold brochure for the program can be downloaded as a PDF online.

Filed Under: Featured, Public Policy, Research

Workforce Day at the Capital Postponed

February 21, 2013 By

puttinglocalmissourianstoworkcoverimageTraining and Employment Administrators of Missouri (TEAM) and the Missouri Association for Workforce Development (MAWD) joined forces to hold a breakfast reception for Missouri’s General Assembly and staff.  A winter storm prevented the event from happening as planned on February 21st. A new date will be announced soon.  The event will occur in the third floor rotunda at the Capital building from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. Now in its second year, TEAM and MAWD hold the event to thank elected officials for the work they do on behalf of Missouri’s employers.

This year, TEAM and MAWD published a special report titled, Putting Local Missourians to Work for distribution at the Capital event. The report provides a general overview of Missouri’s local workforce system, its impact on Missouri’s economy, and examples of excellence from each of Missouri’s local workforce regions. The publication includes brief organizational profiles on TEAM and MAWD along with priorities for workforce system reform.  The report may be downloaded online as a printer-friendly PDF.

Filed Under: Events, Featured, Initiatives, News, Public Policy, Research, Training & Education

Report showcases excellence of Missouri’s local workforce system

February 14, 2013 By

puttinglocalmissourianstoworkcoverimageStrong leadership with increased capacity of the local workforce system puts more Missourians back to work sooner.  That’s the focus of a new report published by the Training and Employment Administrators of Missouri. Putting Local Missourians to Work is the title of the 24-page report that provides added focus on the examples of excellence and impact in each of Missouri’s local workforce regions.

The publication opens with the importance of workforce development for Missouri’s overall economy, the necessity of regionalized workforce systems driven by local needs, and the value of the partnerships with educators, state agencies, and elected officials. The opening section also highlights performance metrics such as volume of customers, veterans, job openings, re-employment, and credentials.  A page is devoted to each of Missouri’s 14 workforce regions.  Enriching each profile is a variety of customer and stakeholder testimonials along with articles on projects that make a difference to communities throughout the Show-Me State.

TEAM included brief organizational profiles of both TEAM and the Missouri Association of Workforce Development.  The report also introduces a summary of strategies for meaningful reform of the workforce system at both national and state levels.  The report can be downloaded as a PDF online.

Filed Under: Events, Featured, Initiatives, News, Public Policy, Research, Training & Education

Job search and LMI tools go mobile

February 6, 2013 By

AJC_BannerStack_468x60Several of the most popular online tools from the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration are now available as mobile-optimized websites. These mobile tools will help smartphone or tablet users locate American Job Centers near them, conduct an online job search, search for jobs for veterans, view and compare salaries for various occupations and search for nearby job training providers. These changes are part of an ongoing effort to make workforce resources more accessible to a wider audience and to ensure that anyone interested in finding a job has all the tools they need at their fingertips.

The Census Bureau recently released a free and easy-to-use mobile app, America’s Economy, available for download for both Apple and Android phones and tablets. The app provides real-time updates for 16 key economic indicators from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of Economic Analysis. To access the app, go to: http://www.census.gov/mobile/.

 

Filed Under: Featured, Research, Training & Education
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