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Workforce Development: A New Approach |
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A great deal of information is available on the Internet about the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and workforce development trends in general. Signed into law August 7, 1998, WIA overhauls the old set of federal job training programs by creating a new, comprehensive workforce investment system. A good place to begin is www.usworkforce.org, the Internet “gateway to information on WIA” sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. This site provides a copy of the new workforce legislation, answers key questions, and provides resources for policy and planning. The federally sponsored 21st Century Skills Community Network (www.skillsnetwork.gov) was launched in April to help community-based organizations exchange techniques for closing the skills gap and supporting lifelong learning for all adults. An offshoot of Vice President Gore’s 1999 summit on 21st-century skills for 21st-century jobs, it also includes information on best practices, government resources, and effective strategies for reaching goals and measuring results. The John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University (www.heldrich.rutgers.edu), founded in 1997, provides independent analysis for policymaking and best practices in workforce development. The center offers many studies and reports covering the workforce, the economy, and a wide variety of workplace issues. The National Governors’ Association dedicates a section of its Web site (www.nga.org) to helping governors implement WIA. The deadline for states to submit their first 5-year unified employment/training strategic plans under WIA for federal review was July 1, 2000. Those involved with city government should visit the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Employment and Training Council Web page (www.usmayors.org), which aims to help mayors make the most of WIA’s new opportunities and tools. The council offers a how-to guide—Enhancing Economic Growth for Cities: A Guidebook for Mayors on Leveraging the Workforce Investment Act of 1998—and provides a forum for mayors and their employment and training administrators to examine workforce development issues. The California Workforce Association (www.calworkforce.org) tracks workforce development legislation and policy as it affects California. It also provides technical assistance and training for local policymakers and practitioners implementing WIA. Learn more about how Portland’s workforce development system works by visiting its Web site (www.worksystems.org). The Web site links to the region’s six one-stop career centers that offer jobseekers and employers access to information about local labor markets and the availability of education, employment, and training resources. ______ Note: Internet addresses are subject to change without notice. If you have difficulty with any of these Web sites, a search engine may help you find your way.
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