Workforce Development Partnerships Zachary Morris Energy & Skilled Trades Business Service Manager

About Workforce Development 600 Regionally controlled, Workforce Investment Boards throughout U.S. with public/private- sector oversight 25 Michigan Works! organizations throughout Michigan overseeing 100 Service Centers Provide training resources and job placement to jobseekers Provide staffing/HR services to employers

About We are a 501 C-3, non-profit workforce development organization, serving Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties in Southwest Michigan OUR MISSION –To provide a skilled workforce to meet the needs of employers WHO WE SERVE –2,000 employers with H.R. and staffing services –34,000 jobseekers annually (up from 20,000) 2,361 are youth (ages 14-21)

Mixture of government and non-government entities Government-sponsored activities historically focused on unemployed and economically disadvantaged –First labor programs in U.S. started during Great Depression Federal Manpower Development Training Act of 1962 –First nation-wide publicly provided training program Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA) of 1970s –Introduced local advisory councils Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) of 1982 –Focused training programs on employer-demanded skills –Increased private sector participation on advisory councils to ensure local business needs History of Workforce Development Boards

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 –Federal block grants to fund income support for low-income households –Head of household must find work within specified time Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 –Emphasized job-search assistance and job-readiness training with goal of increasing employment, retention and earnings Focus changed in 1990’s from “Welfare to Work”, to employer-driven skill development History of Workforce Development

Tri-county labor market projections indicate labor need in 4 main industries: –Advanced Manufacturing –Healthcare –Hospitality –Energy/Skilled Trades All training resources are allocated to train the labor pool for jobs within these four industries Industry Sector Approach Career Guide

Department dedicated solely to serving employers by providing: –H.R. and staffing services –labor market intelligence –Incumbent Worker Training grants (IWTs) –Regional Skills Alliances (RSAs) Business Services

Jobseeker Programs and Services Skill level and ability assessment Training opportunities (workshops, etc.) Job search and placement assistance Career counseling Labor market information Adult, dislocated workers & youth Employment services Adult education Post-secondary vocational education Vocational rehabilitation Welfare to Work NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance Veterans Employment and Training Programs Community Services Block Grant Employment and training programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Unemployment Insurance Title V of the Older American Act Trade Adjustment Assistance

Steps Ahead Determine needs More skilled workers? Retrain existing workers? New equipment? Technology? Access to labor market trends? Form partnerships Work with local workforce development organization, industry peers, local training providers, community organizations and key stakeholders Support funding and training that develops skills of emerging workforce

Questions? miworks.org