TEN 08-24 (Accessible PDF).pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE NO. 08-24 DATE September 9 2024 EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON D.C. 20210 TO STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES STATE WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATORS STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD CHAIRS AND DIRECTORS STATE LABOR COMMISSIONERS STATE RAPID RESPONSE COORDINATORS AMERICAN JOB CENTERS COMMUNITY COLLEGES STATE APPRENTICESHIP AGENCIES ETA COMPETITIVE GRANTEES YOUTHBUILD PROGRAMS STATE AND LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT FROM JOS JAVIER RODR GUEZ s Assistant Secretary SUBJECT Release and Availability o f Updated 2024 U.S. Department of Labor s Sector Strategies Framework 1. Purpose. The purpose of this Training and Employment Notice TEN is to notif y the public workf orce system of the release of an updated Sector Strategies Framework as well as related technical assistance resources that are available to support the broad implementation of effective sector strategies. 2.Action Requested. Review the Framework and technical assistance resources and disseminate broadly to relevant stakeholders and partners. 3.Summary and Background. a.Summary This TEN provides inf ormation on a new Sector Strategies Framework and supporting technical assistance resources. It also provides background on the collaborative research and analysis that was done to develop the updated resource s. b.Background The Workf orce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 WIOA emphasizes the important role of sector strategies in a dynamic regional workf orce development plan. Within WIOA regional coordination and planning requirements include the necessity of a regional plan that supports the development and implementation of sector initiatives for in -demand industry sectors or occupations in the regions. Sector strategies are usef ul approaches of local and regional workf orce development that align the collective need s of employers in an in-demand industry with the skilled workf orce needed while ensuring a successf ul career pathway from training 2 to employment and career progression. Evidence supports the ef f ectiveness of sector strategies in responding to local and regional workf orce needs but it also points to challenges in implementing and sustaining a sector partnership. To address these challenges and to create a consistent model f or ef f ective delivery of sector strategies the Department of Labor s Employment and Training Administration ETA f irst developed a sector strategies f ramework in 2016 which has been used to inf orm many of ETA s recent investments. This f ramework def ined a sector strategy model as a partnership of multiple employers within a critical industry that brings together education economic development workf orce systems and community organizations to identif y and collaboratively meet the workf orce needs of that industry within a regional labor market. Over the last eight years the workf orce system s understanding of sector partnerships and sector strategies has evolved recognizing the importance of engaged partnerships data-inf ormed decision making worker voice and activities to support equitable opportunity and job quality as key components of an effective sector strategy model. This recognition has been supported through diverse workf orce stakeholder engagement activities that inf orms the new Sector Strategies Framework. In early 2023 ETA issued a Federal Register Notice of Request for Information RFI on Sector Strategies to Meet Critical Workforce Needs Across Industries. This RFI provided f eedback f rom diverse stakeholders regarding partnership roles promising practices f or employer and worker engagement challenges evidence building and sustainability. Building on the analysis of these responses ETA engaged the American Institutes f or Research AIR to review the current research literature on sector strategies and to convene listening sessions both virtual and in person with national subject matter experts and local and state practitioners to f urther refine and validate the key themes and components f or ef f ective sector strategies that emerged. 4.Sector Strategies Framework. The 2024 Sector Strategies Framework serves as a guide f or all practitioners and is intended to advance knowledge and support the development scaling and sustainability of sector partnerships. The updated version ref lects the collective wisdom of those who have f ound success and lessons learned f rom the challenges of those who aspire to sustain their sector partnerships. The updated Framework retains the original f ocus on industry as the f oundation and driver of sectoral engagement. At the core of any sector is the industry employers who drive the growth and economic vitality of that sector within the identif ied economic region. While being industry-driven sector partnerships and strategies are part of a systems approach to address complementary needs of multiple customers not just employers but also workers and the communities that both depend on and drive that sector. The 2024 Sector Strategies Framework identif ies three core cross-cutting components that are necessarily present within all sector strategy activities. These are 1 Engaged partnerships 2 3 data -inf ormed decision making and 3 worker representation and job quality. These three components are woven throughout the sector strategy approach within each key element to ensure that a sector strategy is broad -reaching and meets the needs of its partners as the workf orce needs change over time. The updated Sector Strategies Framework includes f ive key elements tha t all sector partnerships must have . While some of these have not changed since the initial f ramework industry engagement sector -based service delivery and continuous improvement other elements emerged as central to a sector strategy model. These revised and updated elements are leadership vision and alignment and resources and capacity. While parts of these elements existed in the original the explicit emphasis on leadership a nd vision came f rom stakeholder f eedback in which a key theme was the need f or an intermediary or backbone organization that takes ownership of the sector partnership holds partners accountable and ensures through a shared vision that they stay engage d. Uplif ting resources and capacity as a key element respond to the common challenge s of sustaining sector partnerships and identif ying ongoing f unding streams and resources to support the work. The core audience f or this Framework are local and state Workf orce Development Boards as they f ill a key role as sector convenors under WIOA. However every sector partnership is unique to the local context and in some areas dif f erent organizations may act as the intermediary organization or it may be f illed by several organizations taking on dif f erent elements of the sector strategy f ramework. To ensure ef f ective implementation of sector strategies the Framework is supported by relevant technical assistance resources. These resources are an Implementation Guide that provides a n in-depth process f or sector strategy partners and practitioners a Self -Assessment Tool to support practitioners to see how their sector strategies ef f orts align with the Framework and Implementation Guide and a three -part virtual training series that delves deeper into each core component and key element. 5. Inquiries . Please direct inquiries to the appropriate Regional Of f ice. 6. References . Link to 2024 S ector Strategies Framework and Resource Sector -Strategies - Framework 7. Attachments . None.