Workforce Today Magazine  

A Publication for Businesses of Northwest Wisconsin

 
Autumn 2009
wib logo 
Welcome to Workforce Today Magazine!
 
Greetings!
Welcome to the autumn issue of the E-Workforce Today magazine. 
 
This issue is full of information on current workforce projects and upcoming employer events in our region.  Be sure to read about the new virtual job fair system and the upcoming Employment Law seminars!
 
We hope you enjoy the articles and as always please let us know if there is a topic you are interested in!
 
Happy reading!
 
* If you wish to unsubscribe to this publication please use the link at the bottom of this page.
 
New Virtual Job Fair Available to Employersboy with computer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As you know, Job Fairs are a targeted method of recruiting and initial screening. And now, employers can achieve their recruitment and hiring goals and bring candidates to their door, from the privacy and convenience of their own computer, with the Virtual Job Fair!
 
Like other job fairs, the Virtual Job Fair has "booths" for exhibitors to market their employment opportunities or services to job seekers. However, instead of being located in an event hall or school gym, these job fairs take place entirely online - no need to travel, set-up displays, or spend all day at an event. The Virtual Job Fair is a week-long 24/7 online recruiting event for showcasing jobs to job seekers with only a small investment of a company's time and budget.
 
Online job fairs are well suited to networking geographically dispersed audiences. Employers can be highly effective in attracting a variety of job seekers and generating more detailed and extensive customer data. For example, employers are able to post a company profile with logo display, post an unlimited number of jobs during the job fair, receive copies of all resumes collected at event, view how many times their booth/job was visited, and have the ability to receive an email notification anytime an applicant chooses to apply for one of their jobs.
 
 
EMPLOYERS Bring candidates to your door with the Virtual Job Fair! It's very simple.
Great employees are searching for your jobs. Help them find you with a booth at the Virtual Job Fair on www.goodjobwisconsin.com
 
Added Benefits:
  • Job seekers directed to the Virtual Job Fair via Good Job Wisconsin's system
  • Intensive advertising
  • Support and counseling provided through Good Job Wisconsin's menu of services 
  • Small investment of your time and budget
  •  Find and review applicants from the privacy and convenience of your own computer
  • Post an unlimited number of jobs during the job fair
  • Technical support
  • 24/7 online access
     
     
    It's a week-long recruiting event you don't want to miss... because you're going to showcase your jobs to job seekers with only a small investment of your time and budget. If you have any questions about Virtual Job Fair, email [email protected]
The Manufacturing & Building/Construction
Industries Receive Grants to Pay For Long Range Planning 
 
The Northwest Wisconsin Workforce investment Board (NWWIB) recently received two grants to spur new initiatives in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Provided through
Governor Doyle's Jobs for the Future program, the grants focus on a broad region that includes northwest Wisconsin and northeast Minnesota.

"The manufacturing and construction industries are undergoing incredible changes now. To keep competitive, and to have our area grow, we need to look at new initiatives," Mari Kay-
Nabozny, Director of Development for the NWWIB, noted. "These grants provide seed money for planning and development. With the national emphasis on lean manufacturing, green building, and over all environmentally sound production, the industry leaders, educators, and
economic development representatives need to collaborate on the best ways to grow these two important components of our economy. "

For manufacturing, that means investigating new advanced techniques that will save money,be environmentally sensitive, and provide well paid jobs for skilled, trained workers. With expanding interest in green, manufacturing, use of alternative energy sources, and new production processes, the sector needs a strong, collaborative, strategy.The grant funds of $25,000 will help in building this strategic approach.

Similarly, the construction sector is undergoing considerable changes, which also require investigating new methods, materials, and skill-sets for employees. The combination of
environmental concerns, the need to reduce energy costs, and the recession's impact on the
construction industry, all require a concerted effort to meet the varied challenges.

Two industry leaders were selected to serve as conveners of industry representatives for this initiative.  Northland Area Builders Association will work with the Building and Construction industry and Northwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center is working with manufacturers in our region.  Both conveners are already hard at work organizing their efforts.  If you are in either industry and interested in learning more about either project please contact Mari Kay-Nabozny.

Are you interested in learning more about the economic and workforce status of northwest Wisconsin?  You can view the Department of Workforce Development's Data Dashboard report here.
In This Issue
New Virtual Job Fair Available to Employers
Manufacturing & Building/ Construction Industries Receive Grants to Do Long Range Planning
July 2009 Employment Data for Northwest Wisconsin, Wisconsin, and the U.S
SAVE THE DATE! The GEARING UP! Business Connections in Northern Wisconsin Conference is May 5 & 6
Employment & Safety Seminars Coming In October
Industries In Demand Youth Day is Coming to Siren 10/21
July 2009 Data for Wisconsin and the U.S.

Latest Numbers for Wisconsin and US.
Seasonally
Adjusted
                 

 

Unemployment rate:

NW WI: 9.3%
WI: 9.0%
US: 9.4%

 

Civilian labor force:

NW WI: 96,750
WI: 3,079,800
US: 154,504,000
 
Number Employed: 
NW WI: 87,711
WI: 2,803,400
US: 140,041,000

Number Unemployed:
  
NW WI: 9,039 
WI: 276,400
US:
14,462,000 
 

 
SAVE THE DATE
 
The
GEARING UP! Business Connections in Northern Wisconsin Conference 
is May 5th & 6th!
 
 
Don't miss this exciting and worthwhile conference
held in your own backyard!   Registration is just $65 for two days of networking and learning!
conference image 
 
Employment & Safety Seminars in October! 
 
 
 
 
 
October 22nd - Northcentral Technical College. Medford 
October 28th -
Ramada Inn/Flat Creek Eatery, Hayward
October 29th -AmericInn, Ashland 
 
Experts in Employment Law from Weld, Riley, Prenn, & Ricci and Marshfield Clinic will discuss updates to Employment Law, Workman's Compensation related return-to-work issues:  FMLA, ADA, FMLA -- not an overview of these laws -- just how they come up in the workers compensation case.  Work Compensation - how can you impact your OSHA recordables, and Drug Testing in the Workplace.
  
Cost will be $89 per person, with a multiple person discount and early registration discount.
 
For more information contact Susan Bodoh, Business Service Manager via email Sue Bodoh or 715.492.5126.

Industries In Demand Youth Day is Coming to Siren on October 21st!

Industries in Demand is NOT your typical career fair that has college representatives, but rather an INDUSTRY BASED event which allows business representatives who anticipate a shortage of skilled labor in the future to SHOWCASE their labor needs and occupational data with youth. Training opportunities will be a component of the event, but the fair will provide students with information on available jobs locally, wage information, job growth, vacancies, and more.  


The anticipated labor shortage in key industries such as, energy, healthcare, skilled trades, transportation will continue to grow until 2020. Add to this statistic the fact that youth are not well informed about various career opportunities in the region and we have a potentially disastrous situation for employers. Northwest Wisconsin is experiencing a "brain drain" that impacts the ability of some industries to recruit and retain any young workers. This is your opportunity to inform and recruit future workers for your industry! 

 

To find out how your company can be part of this exciting event please contact Mari Kay-Nabozny at 715-682-9141

Mari Kay-Nabozny
NWWIB, Inc. Director of Development & Oversight