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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8211.
More than $18 million is being channeled by the U.S.
Department of Labor to states across the country for development of one-stop
career centers and job information systems to meet the needs of workers and
employers in the new economy, Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich announced
today.
- Ohio, Indiana and Minnesota
- will receive $15.5 million to develop one-stop career centers while
three groups of states will share nearly $3 million for development of key
elements in a nationwide labor market information system.
"Job seekers and employers need good information on
available jobs and easy access to employment and training programs," Reich
said. "These grants are designed to help people help themselves through simple,
direct, comprehensive systems."
Reich said that one-stop centers provide workers with a
full array of services and information they need about programs, benefits and
opportunities available to them to find new and better jobs. Labor market
information systems, he said, give employers and employees equal access to
information both need, including matching qualified workers with job
openings.
Under the one-stop implementation grants announced today,
Ohio will receive $7 million, Indiana will receive $4.5 million and Minnesota
will receive $4 million. It is expected these funds will be available on July
1, 1995 (the beginning of program year 1995).
These grants are part of an evolving national network of
one-stop career centers. In October 1994 grants were given to Connecticut,
Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas and Wisconsin to implement one-stop career
center systems, while 19 other states received planning and development grants.
The Department of Labor expects that, by the end of this year, every state in
the country will have received either an implementation grant or a planning and
development grant for one-stop career center systems.
Labor market information systems are computerized data
banks that contain localized information on job vacancies and worker
availability, salary and wage rates and other key information about local labor
conditions. In support of a nationwide system, grants are being awarded to
state consortia in the development of America's Labor Market Information
System. The grants will enable the states to collaborate in research,
developmental and operational efforts.
- create a nationwide electronic talent bank and help wanted bank
- Michigan and Missouri are leading a consortium that is receiving $1.8
million to create a nationwide talent bank and help wanted bank. In the talent
bank, employers will be able to electronically search a pool of resumes to find
qualified job candidates, and job-seekers will have a new way to tap into the
job market. The help wanted bank will permit job seekers to electronically
search employment ads from major newspapers.
- turn unemployment insurance wage records into a tool for labor market
information
- A consortium led by Maryland is receiving $700,000 to conduct
research on the use of wage records as a tool for gathering information about
the dynamics of labor markets. These records may be used, for example, to
evaluate job training programs based on what wages graduates earn and how
clearly their training is related to actual jobs.
- create a standard wage information program -- Rhode Island is leading
a consortium that is receiving $400,000 to help create a standard wage
information program for the country. This consortium will help ensure that wage
rate information gathered for various federal and state purposes is uniform and
consistent and eliminates the need for duplicate survey and reporting
mechanisms.
Earlier this month, a grant was awarded to a consortium led
by South Carolina to create and operate a formalized training program to serve
the needs of professionals and regular users of labor market information
systems.
State Consortia for Research, Development and Operation
Creating a Nationwide Electronic Talent Bank and Help Wanted
Bank
- Lead States:
- Michigan and Missouri
- Contacts:
- Von Logan, Deputy Director
- Michigan Employment Security Commission
- 7310 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48202
(313) 876-5904
- Dennis Reed
Manager, Management Information Systems
Missouri
Division of Employment Security
421 East Dunklin Street
Jefferson City,
Missouri 65101
(314) 751-3833
- Overview:
- An electronic talent bank will permit employers to search a pool of
resumes to find qualified job candidates and give job-seekers (both the
unemployed and the currently employed) a new way to tap into the job market.
The help wanted bank will permit job seekers to electronically search
employment ads from major newspapers.
- The proposal calls for operating talent banks in three to five states
in 1995 and in 20 states by mid-1996. By mid-1996, at least 3 million Americans
are expected to post their resumes in the talent bank. Expansion to a full
nationwide system should occur by mid-1998. The talent bank should give
Americans seeking employment access to a portion of the hidden job market jobs
that never make it into newspaper ads or otherwise publicly announced.
- Ads for job openings in most major newspapers begin in electronic
form and are then transformed into print. The consortium will approach major
newspapers to form a cooperative venture to make their ads available in
electronic form through the network of 1,700 public employment service offices
around the nation.
- Other Consortium Members:
- Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland
Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Michigan will serve as
administrative agent for the grant.
State Consortia for Research, Development and Operation
Turning Unemployment Insurance Wage Records Into a Tool for Labor
Market Information
- Lead State:
- Maryland
- Contact:
- Carol Walter
Director of Policy, Planning and
Evaluation
Department of Economic and Employment Security
1100 North
Eutaw Street, Room 600
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(410) 767-2400
- Overview:
- As part of the administration of the unemployment insurance system,
nearly every state collects or will collect quarterly information from
employers on the wages earned by each employee in the country. In most states,
these wage record files contain three pieces of information the wages, the
individual's social security number and some or all of the person's name. In
some states, additional information like hours or weeks worked or occupation
are included.
- Because the wage record file contains comprehensive information on
earnings every quarter, the file has a number of potential uses for gathering
information about the dynamics of labor markets. The file has also been
increasingly used to evaluate job training programs. Records from those
programs are matched against the wage record files to determine which graduates
are working and at what wage levels. Some states (e.g., Florida and Texas) will
do a follow-up survey with employers to determine how well training matches the
actual skills required on the job.
- The consortium will conduct research in the potential uses in a labor
market information system of the wage record database, to explore ways to
enhance that database with additional elements of data (wage rate, hours/weeks
worked and occupation) to improve the quality and timeliness of the data, and
to address issues concerning privacy, confidentiality and disclosure.
- Other Consortium
- Members:
- Alaska, Florida, Oregon, Texas and Washington. Two universities, the
University of Baltimore, Jacob France Center, and Northern Illinois University
will support the project.
State Consortia for Research, Development and Operation
Creating a Standard Wage Information Program
- Lead State:
- Rhode Island
- Contact:
- Robert Langlais, Assistant Director for
Labor Market Information
and Management Services
Department of Employment and Training
101
Friendship Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903-3740
(401) 277-3730
- Overview:
- One of the questions job-seekers ask most frequently is, "What does
this type of work pay?" Employers often want to know, "What is the market rate
for this kind of work?" However, the surveys and other devices federal and
state governments use to collect wage information often ask their questions in
slightly different ways so that information gathered for one purpose cannot be
used for other purposes.
- For example, the Davis-Bacon Act requires that the "prevailing wage"
be paid on federal construction contracts. The Immigration Act requires that
aliens receiving work permits in the United States be paid the local prevailing
wage for their occupation.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics is convening a multi-agency effort to
create a standard wage information program that eliminates duplication and
increases the timeliness and accuracy of the wage information available to all
Americans.
- Under this grant, the consortium will conduct and/or oversee a
variety of research efforts to ensure that the states' needs and interests are
given voice during the process. To prepare for this effort, the consortium will
review current state wage information programs and analyze costs; timing;
frequency; coverage; definitions of wages, occupations and other items;
methodologies; and specific user populations served.
- Other Consortium
- Members:
- Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah and Washington. Alaska will serve as the
technical lead for the project.
OHIO'S ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER SYSTEM
- Contact:
- Gay Gilbert, Deputy Administrator
Ohio Bureau of Employment
Services
145 South Front Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614)
466-9755
- Services:
- Ohio's one-stop customers will have access to a core set of services,
which include information on the labor market and available employment and
training services, job search assistance, and assistance with initial
unemployment insurance claims. Employers will get help recruiting workers and
upgrading the skills of their current workers. To do this, Ohio's one-stop
career center system integrates services available under a variety of federal
programs: unemployment insurance, the employment service, and job search and
training for dislocated workers, veterans, older workers, and disadvantaged
youth and adults. In addition, local areas must also coordinate with three of
the following programs: the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program
for welfare recipients, vocational education, adult education and two-year
colleges.
- One of the most innovative features of Ohio Job Net is its use of
skill checklists. These checklists of skills and experiences are completed by
both job- seekers and employers. The result is a very specific and consistent
set of information on applicant qualifications and employer requirements that
will help make the right match.
- Structure:
- Ohio's one-stop customers will have access to information and
services through a variety of media and in a variety of locations directly from
a staff person at a one-stop career center, in written material, by telephone
and at kiosks. Ohio's system also provides extensive self-service access
through its Ohio Job Net and unemployment insurance voice-response
systems.
- The key partners in each local area will create a local governing
structure, which will oversee the operation of the one-stop career centers. The
Governor's Human Resource Investment Council will be responsible for broad
oversight of the implementation and operation of the one-stop career center
system statewide. The system will be driven by customer-focused goals and
performance outcomes, which the state has already developed.
- Timetable:
- In the first year of implementation, six one-stop career center
systems will be fully operational, and Ohio will begin to develop its statewide
labor market information systems. In the following two years, Ohio will develop
an additional 12 one-stop career center systems each year, for a total of 30 in
three years.
- Contact:
- Julie Smith-Zuidema, Director of
Workforce
Development
Minnesota Department of Economic Security
390
North Robert Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
(612) 282-6925
- Services:
- Minnesota's one-stop career centers will be clearly known as the
place that all employers and job-seekers immediately contact to meet their
employment needs. Technology will play a key role in Minnesota's one-stop
efforts, enabling information to be shared statewide among all partners.
- Minnesota will provide all customers access to a broad array of
services, which include intake and assessment, information on the labor market
and available education and training services, job search assistance and career
counseling. Employers will be offered a number of services and information,
such as business planning data, information on compliance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act and assistance in recruiting workers and in upgrading the
skills of their current workers. To do this, Minnesota's one-stop career
centers will coordinate services offered under a variety of federal programs:
unemployment insurance; employment service; vocational rehabilitation; and job
search and training for veterans, older workers, dislocated workers,
disadvantaged adults, welfare and food stamp recipients.
- Structure:
- One-stop customers in Minnesota will have a variety of options and
locations for accessing services. This includes personally going to a one-stop
career center or accessing services through a mobile van unit, electronic
library, 800 number or computer bulletin board.
- Regional workforce investment boards and the state Human Resource
Investment Council will oversee the system. Performance will be measured around
customer satisfaction, universality, choice and integration.
- Timetable:
- Minnesota has designated 17 one-stop system service areas. Within the
first year, a one-stop career center will be operational in each area.
- Contact:
- Nina White, Director of Research & Development
Indiana
Workforce Development
10 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana
46204-2277
(317)232-7381
- Services:
- Designing and building an integrated information support system,
which will provide statewide support to this integrated service environment, is
the key to Indiana's one-stop career center effort.
- Each center will integrate a number of programs including Job
Training Partnership Act Title II (disadvantaged workers) and Title III
(dislocated workers), employment service, veterans employment service, older
worker and unemployment insurance programs. Programs such as Job Opportunities
and Basic Skills (JOBS), food stamps employment and training, Carl Perkins and
Vocational Rehabilitation also will participate in most centers. Each one-stop
center will offer customers access to a broad array of services, including
intake and assessment, counseling, assistance with filing unemployment
insurance claims and job search. All customers also will have open access to
information about jobs, careers, educational offerings and community resources
through information resource areas which will be housed in each one-stop
center.
- Structure:
- Each of Indiana's local service delivery areas will have a one-stop
career center. Customers will have a variety of options and choices of where
and how to access information and services that best meet their needs. A
customer may go on- site to a one-stop career center or access the system
through kiosks located in libraries, schools, or even stores. Voice response
technology and information hotlines also will be made available to Indiana's
customers.
- Each local area has a state-approved unified local plan, which forms
the basis for integrated service provision at the local level. The Human
Resource Investment Council, created in 1993, has statewide advisory and
oversight responsibility for the key programs participating in the one-stop
system. Indiana has established a number of measurable goals against which
progress will be measured.
- Timetable:
- In the three-year implementation period, Indiana will establish five
new one-stop career centers, for a total of 21 centers across the state. By the
end of year one, information resource areas will be established in the 17
one-stop centers that currently do not offer this resource. Indiana will also
set up a statewide system of one-stop access sites - ACCESS INDIANA - and
develop a "Consumer Reports" for users of education and training programs.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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