Mapping Green Career Pathways: Job Training Opportunities and Infrastructure
The Apollo Alliance and the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce have teamed up to identify components of Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin's workforce development infrastructure that can be better integrated and scaled up to help fill jobs in the clean energy sector. The reports, Mapping Green Career Pathways: Job Training Opportunities and Infrastructure, recommend strengthening existing training infrastructures to build workers’ skills to fill green-collar jobs that are being created in the construction and manufacturing sectors, which are projected to account for 55 percent of all new jobs in the emerging renewable energy and efficiency industries. According to the reports, many of the elements of a green training infrastructure already exist in each state, but there are still gaps along the green career pathway that must be filled through stronger, more integrated training programs.
Posted On :
02/16/10 04:26PM
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456
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428
State Policy Resources for Supporting Adults’ Postsecondary Success
In early November 2009, the National College Transition Network hosted the Policy Forum “Shifting Adult Education Policies to Support Postsecondary Success.” The Forum explored policy changes being pursued by six Midwestern states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) to create pathways to postsecondary education and family-sustaining careers (“middle-skill” and high-skill occupations) for low-income working adults. These states are part of the Joyce Foundation’s “Shifting Gears” initiative, which was launched in 2006 to promote regional economic growth by improving the education and skills training of the workforce. Shifting Gears grew out of the recognition that many adults lack the skills and postsecondary credentials necessary to obtain the new jobs emerging in the wake of the decline of traditional Midwestern industrial and manufacturing sectors. The initiative is helping these states implement significant, systemic policy changes to institutionalize innovation in adult education, workforce development, and postsecondary education programs and to strengthen the connections among these various programs. Click here for other related resources:
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11/20/09 01:13PM
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427
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91
The Workforce Strategy Center Releases New Report on Education Strategies for Disadvantaged Youth and Young Adults
The Workforce Strategy Center’s recent report, “Employers, Low-Income Young Adults, and Postsecondary Credentials: A Practical Typology for Business, Education, and Community Leaders,” highlights programs in 14 communities that are successfully addressing the challenge of providing disadvantaged youth and young adults with the technical and postsecondary education that may qualify them for skilled positions. Programs discussed in the report meet the following four basic criteria: Getting low-income youth and young adults postsecondary credentials that will allow them to enter and advance in career track employment. Working with employers in industry sectors important to the region’s economy. Maximizing employer roles and commitment. Demonstrating portability, scalability, and replicability. Programs discussed are based on a variety of models, including community-based organization models, community and technical college models, employer models, industry sector models, and social enterprise models.
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10/27/09 02:18PM
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421
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146
West Central Wisconsin Business Alliance
The West Central Wisconsin region has developed the West Central Wisconsin Business Alliance, a coalition of partners from government, business, and economic development to develop responses to workforce pipeline issues in the region. The partnership has created two alliances, Manufacturing Works and Health Work Alliances, to address industry issues and engage regional firms in the resolution of regional issues. The article describes the Alliances genesis, services and next steps and provides links to addition information including a Regional talent Survey which was conducted to assess the region’s workforce and identify responses to urgent needs identified.
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05/08/09 02:30PM
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718
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370
Workforce Training: Credentials, Pathways and Pipelines to the Green Economy
This is a link to presentations from a workshop given at the "Good Jobs, Green Jobs" National Conference in Washington, DC, in February 2009. Building a green country requires building a skilled workforce. What does that look like in practice? Developing skills standards for green-collar jobs will benefit workers, employers and consumers alike. For workers, a credential provides mobility and bargaining power, and thus higher wages, in the labor market. For employers, it provides assurance that job applicants meet necessary skill standards. And for consumers, it provides critical information for contracting decisions. This panel addresses successes and challenges for certification and training in the emerging clean-energy economy, where most workers will need more than a high-school diploma, but less than a 4-year degree. Moderator: Sarah White, Senior Associate, Center on Wisconsin Strategy Speakers: Marcy Drummond, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Los Angeles Trade-Tech College (LATTC) Alan Hardcastle, Senior Research Associate, Washington State University Tom Gannon, Manfucturing Field Specialist, Working for America Institute Jane Weissman, Executive Director, Interstate Renewable Energy Council (NY)
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02/13/09 12:43PM
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2551
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1633
Report: Job Opportunities for the Green Economy: A State-by-State Picture of Occupations that Gain from Green Investments
Job Opportunities for the Green Economy: A State-by-State Picture of Occupations that Gain from Green Investments, a report released in June from the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, examines 12 states and the people employed in occupations affected by six green economic strategies: building retrofitting, mass transit, energy-efficient automobiles, wind power, solar power and cellulosic biofuels. Sponsored by NRDC as part of the Green Jobs for America campaign, the report shows millions of U.S. workers will benefit from a movement to defeat global warming and transform the United States into a green economy.
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02/02/09 01:48PM
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1836
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1180
Coping with Layoffs: Current State Strategies for Better Rapid Response
This brief published by the John J. Heldrich Center Workforce Development in November 2008, examines state rapid response practices that are designed to coordinate the delivery of a wide array of services to displaced workers. It summarizes the efforts of several states, identified by national experts as having promising practices, in the service delivery, organization, and evaluation of rapid response activities. It highlights states that combine post-layoff activities with proactive layoff aversion approaches and worker transition assistance. Overview provides state workforce professionals additional tactics and strategies to consider for their state workforce systems.
Posted On :
01/29/09 09:21AM
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970
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371
Greener Pathways
Greener Pathways outlines a plan of action for state policy makers, highlighting reform opportunities to embrace the greener and more equitable promise of the new energy economy. It was prepared by the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, the Workforce Alliance, and the Apollo Alliance.
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01/16/09 10:04AM
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267
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150
Green-Collar Jobs in America’s Cities: Building Pathways out of Poverty Careers in the Clean Energy Environment
This is a guide for cities to enhance one critical component of America’s shared prosperity: Training and employing people for the higher wage, family-supporting careers in the new clean, green, energy efficient job sectors. This city guide makes a strong case that pursuing a four-step strategy – essentially a metropolitan green business and jobs development plan – provides a wealth of environmental, economic, and social benefits, including what it calls “a pathway out of poverty” for thousands of unemployed, under-employed, and hard to employ people in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The report was prepared by the Apollo Alliance, Green For All, Center for American Progress and the Center on Wisconsin Strategy.
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01/16/09 09:54AM
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533
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325
Construction in Wisconsin: An Industry Perspective (Report and Career Poster)
The "Construction in Wisconsin: An Industry Perspective" Report provides is an informational report that provides a descriptive overview of the construction industry in Wisconsin. Designed for employers, Workforce Development Boards (WDBs), One-Stop partners, workers considering careers in the construction industry and job seekers skilled in the trades, the report begins by defining the elements that comprise the construction industry and identifying industry subsectors. The report continues by providing specific data and analyses of: recent overall employment in construction, industry employment and wages (subsector distribution, and change), turnover, projected growth, and Wisconsin’s regional outlook. The state ends the report with a list of additional construction resources (including area apprenticeships) and also provides a companion career poster, "Work Exploration in the Real World – Construction". Other related resource: Poster - http://worknet.wisconsin.gov/worknet/worknetinfo.aspx?htm=poster_lg_construction
Posted On :
09/25/08 10:25AM
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348
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220
Job Opportunities for the Green Economy: A State-by-State Picture of Occupations that Gain from Green Investments
The University of Massachusetts’ Political Economy Research Institute has released a new volume examining the “Green Economy.” Co-Director Robert Pollin and Assistant Research Professor Jeannette Wicks-Lim provide a snapshot of the kinds of jobs that are needed to build a green economy in the United States in “Job Opportunities for the Green Economy: A State-by-State Picture of Occupations that Gain from Green Investments.” According to the research, the six green strategies are: building retrofitting, mass transit, energy-efficient automobiles, wind power, solar power, and cellulosic biomass fuels. Pollin and Wicks-Lim show that the vast majority of jobs associated with these strategies are in the same areas of employment in which people already work in today, in every region and state of the country. The authors present data on employment conditions in twelve states: Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. For each state, they report the number of people employed in each of the occupations affected by the green economy strategies, and what the average wages are in each state for each of these jobs. They also describe the national employment picture for each of the job categories.
Posted On :
07/14/08 02:38PM
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1631
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870
Department of Labor's Midwest Flood Recovery Assistance
Department of Labor’s Midwest Flood Recovery Assistance The workforce community is reminded that the Department of Labor has announced the availability of a Web page offering a number of resources to assist those negatively impacted by the recent spate of floods in the Midwest. "We want to make information easily accessible and help quickly available to Americans affected by the devastating flooding in the Midwest," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "In addition to our toll-free telephone number, we've set up a Midwest Flood Recovery Assistance Web page to guide affected residents on unemployment insurance, personal safety during cleanup operations and many other helpful resources for workers and employers." The site provides specific links to Unemployment Insurance information for the residents of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.
Posted On :
06/20/08 12:30PM
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529
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259
Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership Center for Excellence
Many areas face the ubiquitous disconnect between skills shortages, especially among unskilled citizens, and available jobs in growing industries. This article describes the partnerships and service model created by the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership, a workforce intermediary jointly led by labor and management in the Milwaukee area, and the Building Industry Group Skilled Trades Employment Program (BIG STEP) apprenticeship preparation program. The program offers a coordinated training model designed to connect residents with jobs and apprenticeships in Milwaukee. The Center provides, for the first time, a single point of contact for meeting the workforce needs of skilled trades and industries. A link to the complete report titled, "Meeting the Workforce Needs of the Milwaukee Construction Industry: Case Study: The Center of Excellence," that was published by Jobs for the Future is provided in the article. To learn more about how workforce intermediaries can impact regional economies go to http://www.workforce3one.org/view/4627/info
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06/18/08 01:47PM
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403
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265
Green Collar Jobs Initiatives
The high cost of energy and the growing awareness to limit carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is creating a movement to "green" forms of energy throughout the United States and the world. Further, in 2006 alone, renewable energy and energy efficiency were responsible for $970 billion in industry revenues and 8.5 million jobs. The workforce development system can play a key role in this groundswell by building partnerships in the community that promote the development of "green" enterprises and provide the training and support needed to build a pipeline of skilled workers for these 'green-collar jobs. This article describes programs in Milwaukee, Chicago, Oakland, District of Columbia, and New York City that create economic and associated workforce solutions for this growing industry.
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04/08/08 01:32PM
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1131
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849
Regional Technology Councils: A Strategy for Community and Economic Development
Regional technology councils assemble, energize, and empower those individuals and entities interested in pursuing technology-based economic development in their community or region. This paper, published by the Trent Lott Center, discusses the potential roles of Regional Technology Councils (RTCs) in community and economic development. Five RTCs are briefly examined. Four mechanisms of successful RTCs and recommendations for future research are provided. List of Technology Councils is on p.17 (Appendix A)
Posted On :
11/05/07 10:14AM
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610
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214
Workforce Intermediaries: Powering Regional Economies in the New Century
This report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation describes the indispensable role that workforce intermediaries play in the evolution of workforce services to balance the competing needs of workers and businesses; leverage millions in new dollars to pay for increased training programs; and link diverse players including nonprofits, colleges, and business associations through common goals and interests. The report shares programs and lessons learned at 3 distinct intermediary organizations: —The Reinvestment Fund, a social-purpose lender and financier of community revitalization in Philadelphia; Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership, a labor/management partnership in Milwaukee; and the Seattle Jobs Initiative.
Posted On :
11/05/07 09:53AM
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430
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278
Gateway Technical College’s New Horizon Center
On September 20, 2007, the opening of Gateway's Horizon Center for Transportation Technology was officially celebrated. The Center has been opened on the Gateway Technical College (GTC) campus in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The $1.18 million center combines GTC's automotive and aviation training programs in one state-of-the-art facility. The new center will also serve as a state and national automotive teacher edu
Posted On :
10/12/07 01:28PM
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348
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177
Great Lakes Vital Signs
This paper, published by the Brookings Institution, seeks to inform and catalyze needed discussion among the Great Lakes region’s Governors; the business, civic, and political stakeholders that influence state policy; the region’s Congressional delegation and federal leadership; round a winning economic vision for the Great Lakes region. It describes the history, its economic position today and includes the challenges it faces and the assets it offers. The report identifies ways states in the region can strengthen their economies through collective action, joining together with federal partners in pursuit of an integrated state, multi-state, and national policy agenda that can contribute meaningfully to economic prosperity in whole Great Lakes region. Important report as it examines far reaching solutions, regarding human capital development, rebuilding infrastructure and urban centers, enhancing training and worker benefits and transportation, that cross state lines and demonstrates how the states in the region could work together
Posted On :
09/11/07 09:17AM
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450
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217
Milwaukee 7 Campaign Summary
Published by Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce this document portrays the campaign’s focused strategies aimed at the retention, expansion, creation and attraction of companies creating high-value jobs. This $12 million, 5-year campaign called Milwaukee 7 combines the strengths and resources of existing economic development efforts and coordinates them with new funding. A key element is to create a regional identity for the Milwaukee region
Posted On :
07/11/07 01:04PM
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264
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146
Small Business Center, Waukesha County Technical College
Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) has offered entrepreneurial courses and technical support to start-up entrepreneurs and small business owners through a combination of courses and services for over 30 years. A state referendum was passed in 1999 paved the way for the creation of a Small Business Development Center on campus. The Small Business Development Centers are part of the 4-year University of Wisconsin system. WCTC decided to fund the Center based on an identified need. Since that time, the Center has created a great deal of local interest, resulting in continued growth. The Center offers one-on-one counseling, education courses, networking groups, networking groups, connections to financing and other services, provided in partnership with local businesses. It also offers a non-credit Small Business Certificate (SBC), as well as a 15-credit certification in Entrepreneurship (CIE). The Center’s impact on local business development is evidenced by clients’ crediting it with helping them start of grow their businesses.
