ten_48_11_acc.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON D.C. 20210 TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE NO. 48-11 DATE May 30 2012 TO STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARDS STATE ONE-STOP SYSTEM LEADS ALL WIA SECTION 166 INDIAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN GRANTEES FROM KATHLEEN MARTINEZ s Assistant Secretary Office of Disability Employment Policy JANE OATES s Assistant Secretary Employment and Training Administration SUBJECT Announcement of Skills to Pay the Bills Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success Curriculum 1. Purpose . To inform the workforce system of a curriculum for teaching soft skills or work readiness skills to youth. 2. References . Workforce Investment Act WIA Section 134 d 3 C vi and Training and Employment Notice No. 31-10 Increasing Enrollment and Improving Services to Youth with Disabilities http wdr.doleta.gov directives attach TEGL TEGL31-10ACC.pdf . 3. Background . As young adults seek employment in an increasingly competitive job market it becomes even more important that the workforce system adequately prepare them to obtain employment while ensuring they advance along a career pathway that leads to future high- demand jobs. Many disadvantaged youth including youth with disabilities may lack understanding of the basic expectations employers have regarding attitudes skills and behaviors necessary to succeed within the social environment of the workplace. Soft skills sometimes called work readiness employability or job readiness skills are essential in helping a youth stand out to an employer and can impact the likelihood of continued employment. Under Title I of WIA state and local areas are required to provide workforce preparation and training for adults and youth. Section 129 a 1 specifies the use of funds for youth activities and includes providing ...assistance in achieving academic and employment 2 success effective and comprehensive activities which include a variety of options for improving educational and skill competencies and providing effective connections to employers. Hard skills or occupational skills are the result of education and training provided to an individual to perform an actual job. Soft skills are generally considered as the cluster of personality traits social graces communication skills personal habits friendliness optimism team work critical thinking and language that characterize relationships within the workplace. Based on a Job Outlook 2008 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers soft skills were identified as top characteristics looked for in new hires by employers. 4. Development of Skills to Pay the Bills . To gain additional insight about the needs of employers the Office of Disability Employment Policy ODEP convened a group of businesses to further explore the issue of basic workplace skills and identify those skills they deemed most important for inclusion in the curriculum. Participating employers identified the following competencies as key to the success of young workers Communication ability to give and receive information and convey ideas and opinions via verbal aural non-verbal written and visual means. Networking ability to interact with a group of people. Enthusiasm and Attitude ability to have a positive attitude in the workplace and an eagerness to complete tasks. Teamwork ability to work well with others to accomplish a goal. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking ability to use knowledge facts and data to effectively solve problems. Professionalism ability to conduct oneself responsibly and work effectively with others. Specific information on each of these competencies is available within the Skills to Pay the Bills Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success curriculum which ODEP developed. In addition Skills to Pay the Bills was positively field-tested by youth service professionals and students across the country. The curriculum is available in both English and Spanish at http www.dol.gov odep topics youth softskills or http www.ncwd-youth.info topic soft- skills . 5. Strategies for Workforce Professionals . The participating employers recommended materials be made available to youth service professionals to encourage and support youth in attaining basic soft skills. Consequently Skills to Pay the Bills was designed to be used by youth service professionals assisting both in-school and out-of-school youth ages 14-21 with career and work readiness skills development. Each chapter offers activities aligned with the 3 six topics presented above. Information is provided on potential teaching strategies including tips on how to ensure that each activity is inclusive accessible and supports universal design for all youth. Instructors are encouraged to adapt activities to meet the needs of each class. Recommended strategies for delivering the curriculum include Using technology to enhance learning and performance. Encouraging students to demonstrate their learning through multiple modalities e.g. written oral graphic or multimedia representations . Providing opportunities for students to collaborate. Giving students opportunities to complete do-overs based on feedback. 6. Inquiries . Questions regarding this guidance should be directed to the appropriate Employment and Training Administration ETA regional office ETA s Office of Workforce Investment or ODEP. You can also send inquiries to softskills dol.gov .