Policy & Practice in the US Natalie Branosky Megan Curran InclusionUS

U.S. unemployment rate

Unemployment Insurance Typically 26 weeks (similar to JSA) Expanded to a whopping 99 weeks in certain states A winning argument? Economic stimulus v. expansion of the welfare state Justifiable because… “I’ve paid into this my whole working life!”

TANF: Emergency Contingency Fund Created to help 50 States to expand their services during the recession $5bn (£3.1bn GBP) total, $1.3 bn (£81m GBP) of which used for subsidised employment Spent quickly, expired Sept ,000 jobs created: divided almost evenly btwn jobs for adults and young people LESSONS LEARNED: Enacting large-scale public jobs programmes in the US quickly & effectively is possible Can be done at a reasonable cost Flexibility in different communities works

Workforce Investment Act (...finally!) Changes to funding design to: Alignment of workforce investment, education and economic development systems in the US Spur “individual and economic growth” Encourage realignment of Workforce Investment Board memberships 50 countries on one land-mass! Cities are the closest thing to a ‘market’ Funding comes from contracts, businesses, foundations + charitable orgs

To improve the quality and labor market relevance of workforce investment, education, and economic development efforts, to provide America’s workers with the skills and credentials necessary to secure and advance in employment with family-sustaining wages, and to provide America’s employers with the skilled workers the employers need to succeed in a global economy.

WELCOME TO WISCONSIN! Wisconsin faces a projected $3.6 billion deficit over its next two year budget cycle. Gov Scott Walker has proposed legislation to remove collective bargaining rights for all state employees except police and fire fighters. The legislation would require public employees to contribute 5.8% of their pay to cover half of their pension costs and at least 12.6% of the health care costs (most pay about 6% now). 175,000 workers would be affected.

What’s all the fuss about? ‘Right to Work’ states

What we saw in Wisconsin Time-limited TANF cases getting ‘good caused’ Non-contracted orgs delivering services and working with One-Stops / Jobcentres A creche at the Jobcentre! The Governor’s budget: reduced TANF payments, increased work requirements Living in the past??

Notable service trends Cities as service providers Huge variation in city ‘markets’ The non-profit sector An explosion of ‘social enterprise’ models Performance-based contracts Green Jobs

Georgia’s Work Ready Certificate Offered at no cost via Georgia’s network of technical (FE / community) colleges Validates an individual’s skills and knowledge levels to potential employers Free, on-line ‘skills gap training’ to improve an individual’s Work Ready Certificate level ($200 incentive to take part)

A trend? BBC America (Jan 2009) Guardian America (Jan 2008) Shameless USA (Feb 2011) Being Human (July 2011) …. and InclusionUS!

the labour market, workforce and economic development, education and skills, housing, health, poverty, children and families, access to services, equality and diversity, social enterprise and nonprofits, volunteering and service improving partnerships, and the transition to the green economy.

InclusionUS

Good Jobs, Green Jobs: UK to the US – Study Visit on Pittsburgh’s Regional Green Jobs Strategy Evolution of the Child Poverty Target: US to the UK – Study Visit to London and Liverpool