REENERGIZING REEMPLOYMENT How « New Hampshire Works »

NH Works Partners Include: NH Department of Resources and Economic Development (Office of Workforce Opportunity) 6 Regional Community Action Programs (CAPs) providing Workforce Investment Act (WIA) employment and training services NH Department of Employment Security NH Department of Health & Human Services NH Department of Education Senior Community Service Employment

WIA Partner WIA Employment Counselors reside within the 13 NH Works « One Stop » locations alongside NHES staff, and work with the WIA participants – Intake, O*NET Assessment, Testing, IEP – Career Counseling, Support Services, ITA, Resumes 5 Job Placement Specialists (JPS) cover the state and focus on job development activities – Talking to employers, sourcing job opportunities, matching companies and potential hires – Job Club and other direct job search related activity with participants – OJT Development

NHES Partner NH Department of Employment Security – Unemployment Insurance Claims – Employment Services Employment Services Reps (ESR) – Job development and employer outreach – Job order posting in Job Match System (JMS ) – Assisting employers with finding UI claimants suitable to their hiring needs – Coordinating job fairs – “Return to Work” Development

DED Partner Division of Economic Development - Business Resource Specialists (BRS) Twofold mission: – to retain and help expand existing NH businesses – to attract new companies to our great state BRS – Act as single point of contact for businesses seeking assistance in areas ranging from licensing and financing to permitting and workforce training – Work with federal, regional, local and other State agencies, and private sector partners, to deliver a comprehensive array of services to NH companies at all stages of their growth cycle.

Business Services Approach Partnering with businesses to help foster economic recovery and growth ESRs, JPS & BRS provide businesses with information on a variety of other programs that may be of benefit to employers, and that they may not know about: – NH Job Training Fund – Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program – Federal Bonding Program – Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 – ARRA Funded Energy Audits – Labor Market Information – Contact information for other state, federal or community agencies

Employer Outreach Strategies Cold calling broad approach and targeted approach Scheduled company visits Marketing materials adapted from US DOL OJT NEG Tool Kit Working closely with NH Works Partners Small business development centers Joint presentations with IRS Small Business Regional Liaison

Employer Outreach Strategies Press releases, interviews by local cable television and the statewide WMUR-TV and press, including Business NH Magazine and Keene Sentinel articles Testimonials from companies and their positive experiences with the OJT NEG program. Job fairs, Chamber of Commerce meetings, and business trade shows, employer seminars. Employment Counselors outreach to customers who qualify for OJT and provide with OJT NEG Referral Letter

Return to Work (RTW) Part of Governor John Lynch’s 3-Part Initiative – Kicked off March 2010 – Helps UI claimants “get their foot in the door” while acquiring new or additional skills in a training opportunity at no cost to the employer – Allows Employers to “try before they buy” – Claimants continue to collect UI benefits while training – Trainees can only be part-time with 6 week duration maximum, and no more than 24 hours/week – Trainee is NOT an employee…there is no promise of employment and employer cannot pay trainee – Workers’ Compensation provided by NHES

New HampshireWorking Initiative – Part 2 In addition to Return to Work Stay at Work: Workshare – Businesses submit a plan, reducing work hours of their employees to avert layoff, while the employee receives partial unemployment compensation – Team effort DRED & NHES

New HampshireWorking Initiative – Parts 3 Coming Soon: Work Readiness Credential – To meet the needs of the NH business community for better trained workers and ensure that workers are able to compete for better jobs, eligible unemployed workers will be given the opportunity to take an assessment test of their skill levels. – Assessment tool used will be Work Keys – After completing the assessment, workers will be certified as work ready or be offered the opportunity to participate in remedial training in any area where they need to upgrade their skills. – Program administered by Community College System

Conversion of RTW to OJT ESR monitors status of RTW training and “fit”, and communicates back to the JPS RTW does not have to last the full 6 weeks…often employers can gauge trainee fit in days or a few weeks If not already WIA participant, intake could take up to 2 weeks, so timing and communication are critical to smooth transition from RTW to OJT

Conversion of RTW to OJT Trainee must qualify for and enroll as WIA Participant Training must fill a skill gap, or provide marketable skills the trainee does not already possess OJT Agreement and Training Outline must be signed BEFORE training starts under the OJT Trainee becomes FT employee, benefits eligible, covered by employer Workers’ Compensation, and paid at the same rate as trainees or employees with similar jobs and experience Employer must certify intention to retain trainee upon successful completion of OJT Trainee cannot displace any existing employee, or replace anyone who was laid off from substantially similar position within past 6 months

WIA OJT Reimbursement For Workers who are not ARRA OJT NEG eligible – Eligible Dislocated Workers who have not met the “prolonged unemployed” criteria (in NH 18 weeks) – Also for “Adult” (18 yrs or older, unemployed or employed but in need of assistance to obtain employment that allows for self-sufficiency. Includes low income & public assistance customers.) – Employer reimbursed for up to 50% of wages – 6 month maximum training period with $4K cap – Minimum pay rate of $10/hour

ARRA OJT NEG Time limited funding assistance to stimulate job creation and create OJT employment opportunities for recession-related dislocated workers by offsetting employer training costs $75M Nationwide Grant - July 2010 to June 2012 All 3 Criteria Must Be Met: DISLOCATED WORKER LAID OFF ON OR SINCE 1/1/08 PROLONGED UNEMPLOYMENT

OJT NEG Reimbursement Based On Employer Size : 1-50 employees 75% - 90% of wage rate 51 – 250 employees 50 – 75% of wage rate 251 and more up to 50% of wage rate Percentage rate applied factors in actual company size, trainee skills gap, extent and length of training needed, etc. 6 Month Maximum Training Period No OJTs in Public Sector, No Seasonal OJTs

NH OJT Results 7/1/10 – 5/6/11 OJT NEG Number of OJT NEG 46 (1/2 were RTW) Average Trainee Age 45.7 Average Training Period 19 weeks Average Trainee Pay Rate$14.57/hour Average ER Reimbursement78% Average ER $$ Reimbursed$8,471 Obligated funds to date$390K

NH OJT Results 7/1/10 – 5/6/11 WIA OJTs Same Reporting Period – Non-NEG Eligible Dislocated Workers 18 – Adult OJTs 22 – OJT NEGs 46 Total OJTs 86

Additional Information Contact: Maggie Hinkle NH Works WIA Job Placement Coordinator (603)