TEN_25-19_acc.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE NO. 25-19 DATE June 8 2020 EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON D.C. 20210 TO STATE AND LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES STATE WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATORS STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS H-1B JOB TRAINING PROGRAM GRANTEES INDIAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN INA PROGRAM GRANTEES NATIONAL FARMWORKER JOBS PROGRAM GRANTEES NATIONAL DISLOCATED WORKER GRANTEES STATE DIRECTORS OFFICE OF APPRENTICESHIP STATE APPRENTICESHIP AGENCIES REENTRY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES REO GRANTEES SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SCSEP GRANTEES TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE TAA LEADS YOUTHBUILD GRANTEES FROM JOHN P. PALLASCH s Assistant Secretary SUBJECT Understanding Postsecondary Credentials in the Public Workforce System 1. Purpose. The information in this notice is intended to assist the public workforce system in better understanding the key elements of credentials and identifying credentials that help individuals acquire and leverage the skills needed for quality in-demand jobs that meet the needs of the business community. 2. Action Requested. Employment and training grantees should share this notice with staffand federal state and local workforce partners to assist job seekers and businesses identify select and promote appropriate credentials. 3. Summary and Background.a.Summary This notice complements Training and Employment Guidance Letter TEGL 10-16 Change 1 Performance Accountability Guidance for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act WIOA Title I Title II Title III and Title IV Core Programs and TEGL 14-18 Aligning Performance Accountability Reporting Definitions and Policies Across Workforce Employment and Training Programs Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor DOL which provide policy guidance on credentials and reporting credential attainment. TEGL 15-10 Increasing Credential Degree and Certificate Attainment by Participants of the 2 Public Workforce System has been superseded by TEGL 10-16 Change 1 and TEGL 14-18. b.Background As part of WIOA State and local workforce development boards WDBs and other DOL programs using WIOA performance indicators to evaluate their performance are charged with increasing credential attainment among jobseekers. Businesses are also increasingly focused on identifying credentials that will indicate workers have the skills they are seeking however new credentials are continually being developed and offered. This TEN seeks to provide up-to-date information on various types of credentials attributes of high quality credentials and ways the public workforce system can expand the use of credentials to meet America s workforce needs. 4.The Value of Credentials in Supporting a Workforce Talent Pipeline. a.Businesses are looking to hire workers with relevant skill sets and postsecondary credentials can assist in identifying qualified workers upskilling their current workforce and helping them better compete in the marketplace. For job seekers obtaining credentials can improve their employability by documenting the skills and competencies they bring to an employer and can lead to higher earnings greater advancement opportunities and enhanced job security. Evidence shows that education and training beyond high school increases jobseekers ability to attain family-supporting wages in today s economy and well-paying jobs in high-demand industries generally require some form of postsecondary education or training. The earnings gains that accompany postsecondary credentials are well established.1 A report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce also found earnings differentials for certain credentials On average certificate holders earn 20 percent more than high school graduates without any postsecondary education. However the economic returns vary according to the certificate holder s field of study whether the certificate holder works in field...For example 44 percent of certificate holders work in field. Certificate holders who work in field earn 37 percent more than those who work out of field. On average a certificate holder who works in field earns nearly as much as the median associate s degree holder only 4 percent less.2 For many job seekers certificates or certifications which can be earned in as little as six months to two years offer viable alternatives to more lengthy and costly undergraduate degrees. These certificates and certifications can be valuable to 1 Bureau of Labor Statistics https www.bls.gov emp chart-unemployment-earnings-education. 2 Carnevale Anthony P. et al. 2012. Certificates Gateway to Gainful Employment and College Degrees. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce page 4. 3 diverse populations including young adults entering the labor market adults updating their skills to change careers individuals with barriers to employment or those who find the cost of an undergraduate degree prohibitive. WIOA reinforces the workforce system s role in facilitating access to training options that help workers advance along a career pathway within a specific sector or occupational field. As all workforce development activities occur within the context of a regional labor market and its businesses a well-designed career pathway leads to the attainment of stackable and portable credentials that are recognized by businesses and used in hiring decisions. Successful career pathway frameworks include 1 strong partnerships with businesses of all sizes in the identification of skill gaps and the development of high-quality training programs 2 strong coordination with other public agencies including education economic development and human services to effectively leverage public resources aimed at increasing the skills of American workers and 3 thorough analysis of labor market information on industry staffing patterns and in-demand occupations and the related occupational or technical training credentials that will provide workers with greater employability. ProTip Technical assistance about career pathways programs and how to implement a successful framework is available on WorkforceGPS in the Career Pathways Community of Practice at https careerpathways.workforcegps.org.5.The Role of the Public Workforce System in Credential Attainment. a.The public workforce system has a vital role to play in developing a skilled workforce that meets the needs of business and credentials can play an important role in this endeavor. A strong workforce development strategy should offer training that provides the skills needed for in-demand jobs and leads to credentials that attest to an individual s skills and competencies. Such credentials can serve as an important signal to businesses that they are hiring qualified individuals. It is important to conduct a thorough assessment of a candidate s basic and occupational skills and provide services that support the successful completion of postsecondary credentials. ProTip Integrated education and training IET programs provide basic skills instruction contextually and concurrently with workforce preparation and occupational training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster. Partnerships with adult education programs can effectively establish IET programs that meet regional needs and provide pathways to educational and career advancement. However identifying all the relevant credentials in a local area may be challenging. Credential Engine https credentialengine.org for example has identified hundreds of thousands of different credentials available in the U.S. from certificates to degrees certifications to licenses and yet new credentials emerge regularly. It can be challenging for jobseekers workers and workforce professionals to identify which credentials and which training programs are the best fit. Employment and training grantees will need to consider local economic conditions local employer need and the skill gaps in the local workforce which 4 also change over time. ProTip The information in Attachment I can help establish guidelines for identi fying relevant credentials . Employment and training grantees should identify and regularly review valuable credentials that meet the needs of the local economy . While many credentials are valuable in many economic areas grantees should analyze local labor market information and job postings data and consult with local employers to validate which credentials are valuable . Some basic issues to consider when selecting credentials to address local workforce skill needs include What type of credentia l is it Associate s degree o ccupational l icense or certificate or a career and technical education certificate for example o If the credential is a certification has it been endorsed by a relevant industry association or been accredited What type of organization is offering the credential o If it is offered by an educational institution is the institution accredited o Is the training provider offering the credential included on the WIOA Eligible Training Provider ETP list Is the credential valued by industry o Is the credential endorsed by an industry or professional association o Do employers prefer job seekers who have earned the credential Does the credential result in occupational or technical skills that prepare for entr y into or advancement in an occupation o WIOA funds can be used to provide training for credentials attesting to general skills such as work readiness hygiene or safety but credentials can only be counted toward recognized postsecondary credential attainm ent if they prepare a person with the competencies required to perform a specific occupation . o Is the credential cost -effective readily available and can it be completed in a re asonably short period of time Is there evidence that the credential leads to positive employment outcomes and earnings o Performance data that is reported under WIOA for ETP may provide relevant information regarding credential attainment and or other outcomes . Is the credential portable to other employers or other geographic areas o W hile state occupational licenses may not always be portable to other states they still have high value as they are typically required to obtain employment in the licensed occupation. An important el ement in identifying appropriate credentials is learning what competencies and or credentials businesses need . Some employers may be very clear on their needs for specific credentials however others may need assistance in tying the competencies they are seeking to a particular credential. Workforce boards are particularly well -positioned to convene diverse stakeholders including local community colleges to identi fy which credentials may be of greatest value to the local regional economy and that will mee t the skill needs of employers. 5 State and local WDBs can incorporate credential attainment strategies in their state and local plans local sector strategies and career pathway models. For example the State of Florida publishes three lists of h igh -quality in -demand industry certifications that have been vetted by the state education and workforce agencies for various purposes related to career and technical education academic credit and state reimbursement criteria that includes demonstrated demand from businesse s in the state among others. 3 Effective c redit for prior learning policies can shorten the time it takes to earn meaningful credentials. Credit for prior learning has been particularly helpful for adult workers who already have work experience and need to reskill or upskill quickly. Attachment II includes a brief summary of credit for prior learning and available resources . 6. Inquiries . Questions regarding postsecondary credentials and credential attainment should be directed to the appropriate ETA Regional Office or to the Office of Workforce Investment DOL.WIOA dol.gov . 7. References . See Attachment IV . 8. Attachments . Attachment I Credential Resources Attachment II Credit for Prior Learning Attachment III Some Models of Existing Industry -Recognized Stackable Credentials Attachment IV References 3 Prebil Michael an d Mary Alice McCarthy. September 2018. Building Better Degrees Using Industry Certifications Lessons from the Field. New America Foundation. https www.newamerica.org education -policy reports building -better -degrees -using -industry -certifications .