| THE ECONOMY'S IMPACT ON WORKFORCE |
 The Economy's Impact on Workforce "U.S. economy, in recession since December 2007, has deteriorated rapidly" reads a pull quote from the executive summary of the December 2008 "Wisconsin Economic Outlook," which is the most recent quarterly report from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's Division of Research and Policy. Unfortunately, the employment outlook for the state in the upcoming year is also quite dismal. In the same report, the Department of Revenue forecasts "a peak unemployment rate of 8% in late 2009 and early 2010."
Job Centers across Wisconsin are feeling the impact of the economic downtown. From rural to urban areas, Job Training Executives report that Resource Rooms are crowded with jobseekers searching for employment, sometimes waiting in lines to access computers, while workshops like "Pound the Pavement" or "Coffee & Careers" are filling up as soon as they are offered.
Given current economic conditions and demand for employment and training services, the association is following the President-Elect's Economic Stimulus Plan . It is anticipated that the economic stimulus package passed by congress will direct substantial resources to national infrastructure investment and the greening of manufacturing, which offers tremendous opportunities for workforce innovation, particularly in terms of green job training and apprenticeship. In addition, the association anticipates that the Plan's investments in a clean energy economy will be directed, in part, to build America's high-skilled manufacturing workforce and increase funding for federal workforce training programs (particularly programs in green technology training).
Meanwhile, WWDA members are working to shape the Sector Strategy Initiative emerging from the Governor's Council on Workforce Investment (CWI). Workforce Development Boards across the state are linked in collaborative regional efforts with businesses and economic development entities across the state and are looking forward to further developing regional partnership infrastructures.
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NUMBERS UP- WASHINGTON-OZAUKEE-WAUKESHA COUNTIES' DISLOCATED WORKER PROGRAMS
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"Everyone at the Workforce Development Center has provided me with so much hope during such a devastating time." - Washington County participant of the WIA Dislocated Worker Program
With labor and economic analysts comparing our current economy to that of the great depression, it is no surprise that inquiries and enrollments for the Dislocated Worker Program (DW Program) are at an all time high. The DW Program, under Title I of the 1998 Workforce Investment Act (WIA), is designed to provide quality employment and training services to assist dislocated workers in finding and qualifying for meaningful employment. Eligible participants include individuals who have been laid off or terminated, individuals who receive or have exhausted unemployment insurance, or individuals who were self-employed but are unemployed as a result of general economic conditions in the community or because of a natural disaster. In addition, displaced homemakers who are no longer supported by another family member are also eligible for the DW Program. In Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington (WOW) counties, the Workforce Development Board oversees the DW Program; and DW services are provided at the Workforce Development Centers in Pewaukee, Mequon, and West Bend.
Also not surprisingly, the current economic downturn is having a huge impact on the demand for DW program services. According to Cara Bowman, DW Team Leader, "Waukesha County has seen an increase in companies laying off handfuls of employees (5-10 at a time). It seems as though companies in Waukesha are doing incremental layoffs, checking the books and then doing another handful as needed to balance the books." Washington and Ozaukee County on the other hand are seeing higher numbers of mass layoff's and downsizing from companies such as Simplicity, Gehl Company, Carlisle Tire and Wheel, Techumseh, Serigraph, Amity and Slinger Manufacturing. Also contributing to the demand for services is the fact that today dislocated workers in the WOW area are seeking DW Program services immediately after being laid off. In comparison, a few years ago, individuals would often wait several months after receiving their lay-off letter before making an effort to enroll in the program.
DW Program services in the WOW area include job search and placement assistance, one-on-one case management, comprehensive assessments, career planning, on the job training, and occupational training from qualified training providers. In addition, the WOW Workforce Development Centers offer workshops and networking groups to help people improve their job search skills and also provide people with the opportunity to connect with others who are in a similar situation. Workshops, with names such as Pounding the Pavement, have grown significantly over the past year as the unemployment rate has increased. Basic computer training is also offered to dislocated workers at the WOW Centers and these classes are also being well attended, especially by individuals who worked in settings for many years where computers were not part of their daily routine.
DW Program services are always important, especially during times of mass layoff and economic dislocations. The following is a testimonial from a Waukesha County participant of the Dislocated Worker Program that shows how DW Program services make a difference:
"A few years ago I decided to go back to school. I had been working in a factory for 6 years and wanted a change in careers. I started school part time, worked full time, and cared for my family. Recently I lost my job at the factory (11 1/2 year employee). I only had one semester left until I would graduate. The thought of me finishing school didn't seem possible. Money was too tight and finding a job seemed dismal in today's economy. I contacted the Workforce Development center. They were able to help me get the funding that I needed to finish my last semester. I am very grateful for the assistance and am happy that I will be able to graduate this spring. Without the WIA program, graduating this spring and finding a more rewarding career would not have been possible!"
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| JANESVILLE AND ROCK COUNTY MAKE INTERNATIONAL NEWS |
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Janesville and the Rock County Job Center do not make international news very often. But, they have been in the spotlight over the past six months.
Dozens of print journalists, from news organizations from Europe, the Far East and the Middle East, have come to report on the end of SUV production and the fact that hundreds workers are out of work. Janesville has become a symbol of what is happening in the US economy. International news media see Janesville as an example of the impact economic changes are having on small communities.
Freelance journalist Keiko Tsuyama, told the Janesville Gazette that she was interested in Janesville because she was looking for a town affected by unemployment to tell the story of the United States' economic downturn. Tsuyama writes for Aera, a 250,000-circulation news magazine she compared to Newsweek.
In addition, news film crews from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Toyko have filmed segments for news broadcasts. Most of the television crews are here to do longer stories, like "60 Minutes" or "Dateline," rather than the short segments typically seen on local news broadcasts.
Most of the journalists have come to the Rock County Job Center to learn about efforts to assist the workers find new jobs. Bob Borremans, executive director of the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board has been interviewed repeatedly about the GM situation. "Apparently what is happening here in Janesville is a worldwide story," Borremans said. The Swedish team, for instance, was interested in the fate of a small town that was home to an auto plant for nearly 100 years.
As part of agreeing to do the interview, Borremans has requested a DVD copy or streaming video link to the broadcast. He has watched several of the programs and feels that the reports have been balanced telling the story about the economy and the human toll on impacted workers. The tone of the broadcasts has been similar to stories broadcast by United States media. "The only difference is that the only parts of the programs I can understand are my comments," Borremans said. "The other segments of the programs are in the native language of the country with my comments transcribed as subtitles at the bottom of the screen.
He said that watching the programs shows how little we know and understand about what is happening in other parts of the world.
Among the news media requesting interviews was a request from Al Jazeera English, the TV news channel headquartered in the Persian Gulf emirate of Qatar. Borremans turned down the Al Jazeera request because he was unsure if the interview may be used intentionally to report misinformation. However, he has since heard that Al Jazeera is a legitimate news organization that has a good reputation for fair, unbiased reporting. He wonders if he should have done the interview.
The most recent film crew was from "Netwerk TV" in the Netherlands. Reporter Siebe Sietsma said that the "Netwerk" was doing a story about the change in administrations and the economic challenges facing President Obama. The broadcast aired on January 19th the night before the inauguration.
"It has been very interesting meeting these foreign correspondents and hearing their perspective on what is happening in the economy," Borremans said. "Most see the situation here as not only impacting Janesville and the US economy, but also their country as part of the global economy."
Most of the journalists who have come to Rock County have enjoyed their short stays. The crew from the "Netwerk" was the exception. They were here during the frigid -20 degree days the second week in January. Sietsma said that "it is a bit cold and not really to my liking." They were looking forward to warmer temperatures as they headed to their next assignment in Crawford, Texas. |
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February 12th is the Wisconsin Workforce Development Association's 2nd Annual Day at the Capitol. Private sector business representatives from workforce boards across the state will be visiting legislators to discuss workforce development issues in Wisconsin.
