Spotlight.
Workforce Data Quality Campaign Meets with State Data Leaders
On November 15, staff from National Skills Coalition and MPR Associates met with forty state officials to enlist their involvement in a new Workforce Data Quality Campaign (WDQC) being organized by NSC and other national partners, with the support of the Lumina and Joyce Foundations. The new Campaign hopes to bring a wider range of workforce, adult education and career-tech clients into state longitudinal data systems (SLDS) that currently focus mainly on traditional students, and to raise the profile of industry-recognized credentials as documented markers of state success along with traditional degree attainment. Learn more.
The Latest News.
NSC responds to President's SOTU address. In his State of the Union Address, President Obama committed to training 2 million workers through a streamlined workforce system built on partnerships with businesses that are ready to hire. Read Andy Van Kleunen’s press statement responding to the President’s speech and calling for policies and investments that can make the President’s vision a reality.
January 25, 2012
Colorado Skills for Jobs Act introduced. On January 8, a group of Colorado legislators, accompanied by members of the Skills2Compete-Colorado campaign announced the “Skills for Jobs Act”—an innovative proposal to align Colorado’s labor market openings with the graduates of the state’s workforce training programs.
January 20, 2012
NC employer survey reveals skills gaps. A new survey of North Carolina businesses reveals that despite continued high unemployment in the state, employers in that state are struggling to find skilled workers to fill current job openings.
January 17, 2012
When industry-based training is a public good. Andy Van Kleunen responds to the January 8th New York Times cover story "Private Sector Gets Jobs Skills; Public Sector Gets Bill," arguing that states and the federal government should make smart public investments in skills with industry as a strong partner.
January 17, 2012
Advocates help restore Illinois’ MAP funding. On December 2, Illinois advocates, led by Women Employed, scored a huge victory for low-income students, fighting for and winning the reinstatement of $33.5 million back into the state’s Monetary Award Program (MAP) for the current academic year.
January 6, 2012
White House announces summer jobs initiative. On January 5, the White House announced a new “Summer Jobs+” initiative, which is intended to create up to 250,000 summer work experiences for disconnected youth at federal agencies and private employers this summer.
January 6, 2012
"Extenders" fight shapes up for February. In one of their final moves before leaving for the holidays last month, Congress approved an “extenders” bill that temporarily reauthorized a range of federal policies and programs, including extended unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, the employee payroll tax holiday, and the TANF block grant to states. However, the bill only extends authorization through the end of February, setting up what is expected to be the next major showdown between the House and Senate.
January 4, 2012
