Reforming Workforce Delivery

Reform Agenda  Integration of workforce development programs and demand-driven service delivery responding to the needs of business and industry.  Strengthening role of Louisiana Community and Technical College System  Rapid response capability  Fast Start program  Education (K-12)

4-yr college 35% Drop out or leave state 37% Enter job market 20% Workforce Preparedness Gap Profile of jobs in 2014 *High school class of 2004 *Based on projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics Source: LED analysis 2-yr degree 8% 2-yr degree 55% HS diploma or less 24% 4-yr college 21%

Priorities  Leadership –Coordinate, facilitate and integrate the workforce development system  Invigorate and strengthen the WIA framework  Address major workforce challenges –Customized workforce solutions –Large employers, industry sectors, regions, agencies  Enlarge the workforce –Under-engaged La. population; recruit to La.; immigrant workers  Improve Workforce Commission performance –Improve customer service –Redirect resources from “overhead” to priorities

Reform Timeline  Late June 2008: Passage of reform legislation  July – August 2008: Business engagement meetings –800 business, economic development leaders and elected officials  October: Internal reorganization –Deputy Executive Director Tia Edwards –Workforce Development Director Howard Sanders (Feb. 2009)  Workforce Investment Council  Regional operations  Growing the workforce  Customized Workforce Solutions  October – November 2008: Workforce Summits –800 attendees in Lafayette and Monroe –Valuable input, available at

Reform Timeline  Fiscal –Piloted high school redesign  Reducing dropouts, improving readiness for college and work –Redesigning post-secondary education funding formulas  Community and technical colleges (workforce demand driven)  4-year institutions (performance-based) –Growing the workforce  Recruiting from the 750,000 who are not fully engaged –Multi-agency integration planning  Beginning with Department of Social Services

Reform Timeline  Fiscal : Implementation –Occupational Forecasting Conference –Workforce delivery program integration  Continuing with Department of Social Services  Adding other state, federal programs  Includes systemwide performance management and accountability –Post-secondary funding formula implementation –Statewide high school redesign  Taking pilot statewide to reduce dropouts, improve readiness for college and work –Strengthening role of Unemployment Insurance and Workers’ Compensation in workforce development

Service Delivery System US DOL Louisiana Workforce Commission Workforce Investment Council Workforce Investment Boards Business & Career Solutions Centers Assessment Training Support Job placement Career enhancement Career Recruitment Employer-based training Workforce information Customized solutions Business

Unemployment Rates by Region * Unemployment rates as of February 2009 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Monroe MSA Shreveport MSA Lake Charles MSA Alexandria MSA New Orleans MSA Lafayette MSA Baton Rouge MSA Houma MSA Statewide

Unemployment Rate Trends Percent Tangipahoa Louisiana

Regional Workforce Development Initiatives  Business Services Team meets regularly with key workforce development stakeholders to develop strategies to market and promote business solutions.  Coordination with regional and statewide stakeholders on business expansions and relocations –BRAC –LED

Regional Workforce Development Initiatives  Hosted customized recruitment event for American Truss Co. –Applications from 200 skilled workers  Also assisted Barrier Construction with finding workers to handle infrastructure improvements at the American Truss facility.

Regional Workforce Development Initiatives  LWC staff also are providing services to the nearly 200 employees who will lose their jobs when Hunt Forest Products closes its Natalbany plywood plant in May.  Orientation sessions began this week.  On-site worker transition center set to open Monday.  Job fair set for early May.  Services are free. –Skills assessments –Workshops –Job placement assistance –UI

Regional Workforce Development Initiatives  Hammond Business and Career Solutions Center reports high volume of construction and offshore workers looking for jobs.  Area employers looking to fill positions in health care, transportation, warehousing and IT.  This illustrates the supply and demand gap we must work to close.

Business Engagement  Business leaders are critical in closing the gap.  Get involved with your local Workforce Investment Board.  Post jobs in our statewide, free system. –  That data informs occupational forecast.  Improving our forecasting will ensure we are training workers in the skills needed to meet demand.  As we close the gap by aligning job seeker skills with employer needs, we all win.

Up Next  LWC is collaborating with the Hammond Chamber on Employer Symposium. –April 30 and May 7 –LWC Conference and Training Center, 1711 Nashville Avenue  Sessions will provide employers with an overview of LWC services including online recruitment tools, Business and Career Solutions Centers, worker training programs and unemployment insurance.