NCWorks Will Collins Assistant Secretary Department of Commerce for Workforce Vice President Community College System for Workforce Executive Director NCWorks

NCWorks – Commerce Employer Engagement Meet with employers, current and future Understand employer needs Provide labor market information Identify and develop pipeline of talent Structure work-based learning opportunities Connect talent to jobs

NCWorks – Commerce Talent Identification and Development Meet with job seekers Assess skills Provide information on high demand jobs Plan a career Develop skills (training, work-based learning) Connect talent to jobs

NCWorks Commission Strategic Plan Goals Create an integrated, customer-centered, and seamless workforce system. Create a workforce system that is responsive to the changing needs of the economy. Prepare workers to succeed in the North Carolina economy and continuously improve their skills. Use data to drive strategies and ensure accountability.

NCWorks Commission Strategic Plan Strategic Action Plan – defines how the state will achieve its workforce goals and objectives Strategies fall into four key areas System alignment and transformation Strengthen customer service Career pathways Accountability

Status of Implementation: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act WIOA

What is WIOA? WIA – Workforce Investment Act: Federal Law to support funding for employment / training initiatives. WIOA --Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Basically the same mission: Release of preliminary info was slated for January but delayed until “Spring” To understand the difference of former legislation and new legislation.... Focus on “Innovation”... And “Opportunity”...

Status update of NC’s preparation: March 9: SETA/NCETA conference: USDOL ETA Deputy Secretary Byron Zuidema and USDOL Region 3 roundtable with Regional Administrator Les Range. DWS / USDOL Region 3 assessment: North Carolina is on pace and ahead of our fellow Region 3 states in addressing WIOA, in meeting with and working with local Workforce Development Boards, and making initial plans and informal contacts with partner state agencies.

Additional Information: USDOL plans “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” to be within weeks not months. NPRMs allow for more input than “Interim Final Regulations”. This provides more opportunity to influence the Final WIOA Regulations (before January, 2016). DWS WIOA implementation workgroup conducts weekly meetings. Planning is underway and clearer understandings are being investigated.

Staying ahead of the curve: NC is moving forward for July 2015 working with our state partners and local Workforce Development Boards; Training session all day: In December, 2014 and March 18, 2015 Designing plans for a WIOA Implementation Inter-Agency Steering Council with senior leadership and workgroups across agencies to have a true Unified WIOA Plan for: President of CC, Sec. of Commerce, Sec. of Education, Sec. of DHHS, President of University System, and other statewide / agency leaders.

Documents and Links.... February 19, USDOL WIOA implementation Vison document released. Federal vision is very closely aligned with NCWorks Commission Strategic Plan Commission/SAP%20Final%20with%20updated%20letter% pdf

NCWorks Will Collins