Workforce Developments

Shortage of skilled workers "our biggest challenge"

Last week the Aerospace Futures Alliance held a strategy retreat in Seattle to talk about what Washington can do to keep what aerospace production it has and lure more back to the state. The event was reported by Bryan Corliss in Washington CEO magazine.

Thanks to the aerospace industry, manufacturing is on the rise in Washington while it has been falling elsewhere in the country. According to Deloitte, aerospace accounts for 25% of manufacturing employment in the state. What will it take to keep the aerospace industry? At the top of the Alliance's list is investment in workforce development.

John Theison, CEO of Orion Industries, told the group

"It's not just engineers we're having problems with, it's the machinists as well. We need assistance in finding trades persons, and I don't just mean at the college level but at the high school level."

Rosemary Brester, CEO of Hobart Machined Products, said

"I can't compete on cost. I have to compete on quality and delivery and my deliveries are slipping because I can't find the workforce."

At the same time, aerospace businesses also want tax breaks. Getting that plus new investments in education and workforce development is rather like wanting to have your cake and eat it too. But we'll let Washington sort that out. In the meantime, the message is clear:

To keep high-wage industry sectors in your hometown, you're going to have to invest in your workforce.

Boeing Dreamliner image: Aerospace Futures Alliance

From Jails to Jobs (Part 1)

I recently had the opportunity to attend Larry Robbin's "From Jails to Jobs" training in Santa Rosa, sponsored by Goodwill Industries of the Redwood Empire. For those who don't know him, Larry is a national trainer on workforce issues, with over forty years of experience.

I found his training to be full of useful information and practical tips, which I will relay in this post and another one to follow next week. Among the take-aways:

• The biggest barrier to employment for re-entry folks is their social isolation from other working people. So one of the most important things they can do is maximize their exposure to working people who can get to know them as PEOPLE and not as ex-offenders.  This is much more effective than straight job-search, since the majority of jobs are not advertised except through word of mouth.

• Many re-entry folks have strong opinions about things - they should be encouraged to get involved in a cause related to those opinions. This serves multiple purposes - it helps them to build contacts, to perform career exploration, and to build up their "trust" account.

• For the workforce community, he points out that people are often treated differently after disclosing their ex-offender status, similar to certain disabilities and health conditions. He suggests that it is important to normalize this issue so that people are comfortable talking about it. You might begin by saying, "A lot of the clients I work with may have barriers to employment such as X, Y or Z so it would help me to help you if you let me know which of these things you are dealing with..."

According to Larry, in the San Francisco Bay Area

• 70% of businesses would avoid hiring re-entry folks at all costs,
• 22% have mixed feelings about it, and
• 8% have social values that make them sympathetic to hiring re-entry folks.

That means that re-entry folks have a fighting chance with about 30% of employers. How does he advise that they go about it? Tune in next week to find out.

Next Wednesday: the Turn Around Speech and Turn Around Packet.

image: ehow.com

Unemployment extension signed into law!

This morning the president signed into law a bill (HR 2642) that will extend unemployment benefits for an additional thirteen weeks for long-term unemployed workers. Some relevant links:

• Analysis of key measures in HR 2642 from the Associated Press;
• Remarks at the signing from President Bush;
• Text of the bill;
• History of the bill from OpenCongress.org.

This piece of legislation is enormously important to many Americans. While I've been covering its long, strange trip through Congress since early April, the number of daily hits on this blog has increased more than eight-fold, most of them from people seeking out information about the unemployment extension. Many readers have commented on my earlier posts, telling their own personal stories. In particular, check out this post from April 16, and this post from May 19.

All my posts on the unemployment extension can be found here. For more information on the extension, visit UnemployedWorkers.org.

My thanks to everyone who commented here. Good luck to all of you in your job searches.

Grants for technology-based job training

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has just announced they plan to make $10 million in grants through a Technology-Based Learning (TBL) Initiative. According to the grant announcement, the purpose of the grants is to "expand the vital role of TBL in helping workers quickly acquire the training and skills they need to be successful in today's global economy, and thereby increase the nation's economic competitiveness and growth."

Government agencies, nonprofits, businesses and educational institutions are eligible to apply. DOLETA expects to make about 20 grants of between $100,000 and $500,000. A webinar for potential applicants will be held on July 29 - visit Workforce3One for info on how to participate.

To read the summary click here, and here for the full solicitation.

Due date is August 19, 2008. 

Short haul truckers in the news

A study I worked on for a client of mine, Port Jobs, was quoted in a Seattle Times article last week about short haul truckers in the Puget Sound region. Here's an excerpt:

But this is a particularly challenging time to be a driver. A 2006 study by Port Jobs, a Seattle nonprofit, found the average short-haul trucker at the Port of Seattle drove an 11-year-old rig, worked 11 hours a day and earned $31,000 a year. But that was two years ago — before cargo volumes dipped almost 10 percent and diesel prices nearly doubled to almost $5 a gallon. Most drivers do not have health insurance, retirement plans or paid vacation.

The article tells the story of one truck driver, Baljinder Singh, and puts his experience in a broader context. It's great to see hard working short haul truckers making the news, and to see Port Jobs get some media coverage. I'm also thrilled to know that the findings of a report I worked on for many months is being read by the public, not just sitting on a shelf somewhere.

To read the Seattle Times article by reporter Bob Young, click here.

To read the full Port Jobs report, click here, or just read the executive summary.

Trucks lining up at Terminal 46: Photo by Don Wilson of the Port of Seattle

Where the green jobs are

A great new report from the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, identifies the jobs that can be created by six key investments to address climate change and build a green economy. They've also run the numbers, showing what those jobs pay in twelve states.

The six investments highlighted by authors Robert Pollin and Jeannette Wicks-Lim in Job Opportunities for a Green Economy are

1. Building Retrofitting
2. Mass Transit
3. Energy-Efficient Automobiles
4. Wind Power
5. Solar Power
6. Cellulosic Biofuels

Yeah, I had to look up that last one too.

Click on this table from the report to get a better look at all the different jobs that could be generated by these investments. From New York to Oregon, community colleges, businesses and governments are climbing on the "green collar jobs" bandwagon. This report provides more information to help keep that wagon moving forward.

One in every 100 Americans

Earlier this year the Pew Center on the States issued a report finding that right now, one out of every 100 American adults is incarcerated in prison or jail. That's the highest in U.S. history, and it presents an enormous challenge to American society and political leaders.

On the same day the Pew report hit the streets, 150 mayors and other city leaders met together at the Mayors Summit on Reentry and Employment to discuss what can be done at the municipal level to reduce recidivism. 750,000 people leave prison or jail each year. They leave with no better job skills than they arrived with, and perhaps with less. They often leave with drug and mental health problems, and many of them return to urban communities with limited job opportunities.

Mayors across the U.S. have realized they can't wait for national or even state leadership. They must take on the challenge of helping former prisoners re-enter society at the municipal level.

Inspired by the mayors summit, Public/Private Ventures (P/PV) has issued a report that summarizes some of the best practices presented there, as well as previous research: From Options to Action: A Roadmap for City Leaders to Connect Formerly Incarcerated Individuals to Work (executive summary). They make six key recommendations for how cities can begin to tackle the reentry challenge:

1. Get the lay of the land  In other words, do the research and gather data about the size and scope of prisoner reentry in your community, and the services available to them.
2. Assemble a task force of all the public and private agencies and organizations who are or could be involved in reentry.
3. Make collaboration work  All those partners have to work together in a meaningful way, not just sign off on each others' grant proposals.
4. Address city-level barriers to employment  These can include professional licensing requirements that prevent ex-prisoners from working in certain fields, but aren't related to their conviction.
5. Engage the business community  This can range from educating them about federal and state incentives for hiring ex-prisoners to creating new incentives at the local level, or just convincing local businesses to take a chance.
6. Take it to the next level  Work with state and federal officials to make policy changes there that will help local reentry efforts.

It's not rocket science. The problem is that there isn't a concerted, coordinated effort at the federal or state level to address prisoner reentry. It's viewed as risky for elected officials to take on, as they might be seen as "soft on crime." That's why local governments are going to have to lead. Passage of the Second Chance Act (HR 1593) earlier this year will make some funding available for reentry programs, but it won't be nearly enough.

The P/PV report includes examples of programs that have worked, and quotes from mayors and other leaders in the field. If you have a reentry program or are thinking about getting engaged with the problem, whether you're a nonprofit, government official or private businessperson, this report is a good place to start.

Stop the rescission before it happens

This alert arrived in my inbox this morning from Rachel Gragg at The Workforce Alliance:

As states absorb the impact of the $250 million 2008 WIA rescission, we want to make sure history doesn't repeat itself. Like last year, Congress is going to have to prioritize programs for investment. We must ensure that House appropriators don't hand down another WIA rescission this year.

An economic "turndown" is absolutely the wrong time to cut workforce training dollars. Workers need ever more skills to compete in a global workforce, and businesses need an even more skilled workforce to compete in the global marketplace.

TWA offers this online tool to help you send an email, letter or fax to key members of Congress. They also encourage you to follow up with a phone call. In addition, you can write in support of a letter recently sent from Senators Kohl (D-Wisconsin), Cantwell (D-Washington) and Collins (R-Maine) asking their peers in the Appropriations and Labor committees to restore funding cut by the 2008 WIA rescission.

Unemployment extension fails one day, revived the next

Congress is still working it, even as I write.

Yesterday (June 11, 2008), the House of Representatives brought forward HR 5749, a standalone measure that would provide an emergency extension of benefits to long-term unemployed workers. 13 weeks for most states; up to 26 weeks for states with high unemployment levels, including Michigan and California.

They used a procedure that required 2/3 of the House to vote yes to pass. It failed, but not by much. 279 members voted for the extension (290 votes were needed): 49 Republicans and 230 Democrats. The plan is to bring it up for a vote again today on a procedure that only requires a simple majority. This bill has been on one wild ride since it was first proposed as part of last year's economic stimulus package.

Despite last week's surprising jump in unemployment, Bush continues to threaten to veto this important legislation. For the most recent updates on the unemployment extension, visit the UnemployedWorkers.org page from the National Employment Law Project.

This is the news as of June 12. For my most recent post on the extension, click here.

UPDATE: At about 3 p.m. their time today, June 12, the House passed the unemployment extension by a vote of 274 to 137. Now, on to the Senate.

Workforce development blogosphere keeps expanding

I've added some new links on the Blogroll Page recently. In case you've missed them:

• The Rubicon National Social Innovations blog tracks trends in social innovation
• Bob Giloth, Director of Family Economic Success at the Annie E. Casey Foundation has gone web 2.0 with his experience and knowledge 
• Find out what local workforce board staff are thinking at the World of Bigbry blog
• Stay up to date on the progress of the green jobs movement at the Apollo Alliance Blog

Welcome to the ever-expanding workforce development blogosphere.  Visit these blogs and join the conversation.

Congress on the verge of dropping unemployment extension

If they do, it will be the second near-miss for this much-needed economic stimulus.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced yesterday that the House would probably drop from an Iraq/Afghanistan spending bill (HR 2642) the 13 week emergency extension for workers who've exhausted their unemployment benefits. This after both the House and Senate passed versions of the bill that include the extension. Bush has vowed to veto the entire bill, saying it would cost too much.

HR 2642 also includes a popular extension of the GI Bill that would expand veterans' access to education. Bush, after saying the bill costs too much, asked Congress to expand the veterans benefits further to apply to their spouses and children.

The National Employment Law Project is urging those who support the unemployment extension to contact their member of Congress and urge Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi not to drop the provision. Such extensions have been passed  five times in American history, including one extension signed into law by Bush's father.

Here's the long, strange history of the emergency unemployment benefits extension:

• Originally included as part of the HR 5140, the original stimulus package passed by Congress and signed into law in February. Missed being included by one vote. 
• Introduced as separate legislation (HR 4934 , S 2544 and  HR 5749)
• Folded into the Iraq/Afghanistan spending bill (HR 2642) by both the House and Senate 

The House is expected to take up the bill early next week.

Life after lockup

The Urban Institute, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary of "nonpartisan economic and social policy research" this year, recently published "Life After Lockup: Improving ReEntry from Jail to the Community." 

According to the Bureau of Justice, there are approximately 12 million admissions and releases from local jails across the country each year. Jails are local facilities, different from state-run or federal prisons. The 9 million individuals who make up these admissions and releases are often incarcerated for very brief periods of time, with over 80% staying for less than one month.   

Although the barriers facing those who cycle in and out of jail are similar to those who end up in prison - substance abuse, housing and employment instability, mental illness and other health problems - re-entry policy has generally focused on the state prison system. Jails present some unique challenges because of the system's decentralized structure, and the quick turnaround time for inmates. Many in this group, however, are already clients of health and human service and community agencies. Thus, the authors believe that jails must partner with these agencies, faith based organizations and families to help inmates connect with the services which may help prevent them from recidivating.

Among the report's rubber-meets-the-road recommendations:

Every person walking out the door should receive a discharge pack or resource kit that tells them exactly where they can go for treatment or other services. Everyone should also have government-issued identification and a bus pass. More tips and strategies can be found in their "Jail Administrator's Toolkit for ReEntry."

In our community, one-stop staff have been meeting with the various units of adult probation to share information about the services available, and solicit input on ways we can better collaborate. What are some steps that you can take in your community to collaborate better with the jails?

Image source: static.sky.com

See the world - alternative career options

The merchant marine is looking for a few good men and women. A recent survey by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration found demand for merchant mariners has begun to outstrip supply.

What's a "merchant mariner?" These are the people who work on cargo and passenger ships that are registered in the U.S. While the majority of ships that transport goods internationally are flagged in countries like Liberia or Panama, some 684 are registered in the U.S. and by law are staffed by U.S. workers. Only U.S.-flagged ships are permitted to ply the 25,000 miles of America's inland waterways.

Even though "marine" is in the title, these workers are not part of the armed services. However, in times of war the merchant marine is called on to deliver goods and soldiers across the ocean.

Seventy-one percent of companies responding to the survey reported having trouble recruiting workers last year, and more than half of respondents reported having trouble with retaining mariners. You can read the full survey report here, or a summary is available here.

Unlike so many of today's occupations, career pathways up through the ranks is clear and well organized. Training for the field is similar to that in an apprenticeship program, including a good share of paid on-the-job training.

For more info, check out the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, or the sites for the six state merchant marine academies. The Transportation Institute, which advocates for the industry, has a wealth of information on its site, including a fascinating history of the merchant marine.

World War II-era poster

Four dollar gas means a four day work week for many

Across the U.S., businesses and governments are moving to a four day work week, to help employees save money and cut back on expenses. The national average for unleaded has reached yet another all-time high, and it looks like there's no turning back.

Leavenworth County, Kansas, is moving its Public Works Department's road crews to a four-day week. In Gove, Kansas, government offices will be closed on Fridays, allowing them to save on heating and cooling as well as gas. Companies in central Ohio are thinking about giving the four-day week a try. St. Francis University in Pennsylvania is allowing employees to work four-day weeks, as long as it doesn't interfere with services. The Birmingham, Alabama, Chamber of Commerce is letting its workers try it too, although the Birmingham News quotes one consultant saying it's good for morale as well as the bottom line, but it won't work for all types of industries.

In all these cases, workers will still work a full 40-hour week, they'll just work 10-hour days.

Other companies are trying other tactics, as the Wall Street Journal reports. Hewlett-Packard, for example, is quadrupling its videoconference room in hopes of eliminating 20,000 employee plane trips per year.

Readers talk about the unemployment benefits extension

Over the past few weeks I've been closely following the effort in Congress to pass legislation for an emergency extension of unemployment benefits for folks who've been out of work for a long time. Currently it's attached to HR 2642. It has passed both the House and Senate but in different forms, so they'll have to meet to reconcile differences. Bush has vowed to veto the bill.

During this time, Workforce Developments readership has shot up, and I've been getting more comments than usual. Overwhelmingly, the visits are from people Googling phrases like "unemployment extension," and the comments have mostly been on those posts. In other words, this is of interest to a many, many people.

It's worth hearing from people who would be personally affected by the extension. Here's a sampling of those comments, in their own words:

Come on lets get some extended benefits going. I am a hard worker and have been laid off from full time work since July 2007. My unemployment benefits ended the first of Jan and all I have been able to find is 12 hours of work a week at $8 an hour and I did not get that until the last week of Feb. I could use some help here!!

        --Laurie

I've been unemployed since November. And I've been trying to find work for MONTHS!! Even the temp agencies are slow, and when I do work with them, I can't interview for a new position. My unemployment ran out months ago, and the debt collectors are calling at all hours. Where is my $600 going? Bills. Such a silly move on Bush's part. He is so detached...

        --Argh

Unemployment is not my way of life and I'm sure it is not the way of life for 99% of the people who are now jobless. It has been a very humble experience and I have learned that being unemployed has a horrible stigma attached. My benefits ran out two weeks ago. We have a child in college and my benefit check was covering her rent. She is not qualified for ANY grants or FASFA money due to our 2007 tax return (because our combined income was tied into my previous employment)a Home equity loan is out since our home has DECREASED in value and student loans are hard to find plus interest rates are high. We are struggling to pay bills with one income not to mention health care costs. We have done everything right in the past and now I feel like we need just alittle help along with the other thousands who just need to eat. I guess that is hard to understand when you are living in the best public housing (the White House) and receiving free lifetime health care etc...like George Bush is.

        --Kristie

I RAN OUT OF BENEFITS 4/2006 , IF THEY PASS THE EXTENSION FOR THE 26 WEEKS WILL I BE RECIEVE ANY OF THIS MONEY?

        --Ken

please pass this I've not been able to find work since July 2007

        --Larry

please vote yes.my wife and i are in our early 70s and can,t find work. our benefts have expired. THANK YOU!!!!

        --Harold

For updates on the bill, resources for unemployed workers, and to join a discussion about unemployment, visit the National Employment Law Center's UnemployedWorkers.org.

Thanks to Michele Martin at Bamboo Project blog whose 31 Day Comment Challenge inspired this post.