GETTING THE WORD OUT TO EMPLOYERS AND JOBSEEKERS IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN
|
|
 A new communication initiative has started in the northern part of the state! In an effort to provide information and resources to both job seekers and employers, the Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (NWWIB) has introduced Workforce Corner. Workforce Corner is a monthly news article submitted to all northwest regional news publications. The NWWIB has worked with the regional papers to schedule these submissions. The ultimate goal of this endeavor is to continue to reach out to communities in the ten northwest counties and help in the placement and the recruitment of workers. The first installment can be viewed online at the Ashland Current.
|
DISLOCATED WORKERS IN NIAGARA ARE TRAINED FOR NEW CAREERS
|
As the nation's unemployment holds strong, it is not surprising that dislocated workers are starting to return to education. Four dislocated workers from the New Page Mill in Niagara and the spouse of another worker have been attending Northwest Technical College (NWTC) since August 2008 for a degree in Nursing. Rather than receiving more education in their current field, these individuals decided to learn a new trade. All five of the students were originally in the Practical Nursing program and have now bridged to the Registered Nurse portion of the program.
The students laid off from New Page Mill worked an average of 24 years at the mill and were earning an average of $22.61 per hour. During a time when jobs are not only disappearing but also changing, returning to education is becoming a popular option. Others who find themselves unemployed have pursued continuing education in their current field; the NWTC has seen a spike of 41% in enrollment in their manufacturing program within the last two years.
The GPAs for the five nursing students range from 3.41 to 4.0. The students all passed the N-CLEX for practical nurses on the first attempt and graduated from the Practical Nursing portion of the program with at least an honors designation.The students have been attending classes in Marinette and travel four to five days per week for class, which sometimes means an average of three hours of driving time per day.
The students have completed a few classes at the Niagara Regional Center and have been role models to other students. They have assisted classmates with projects and have tutored other students. The students work with Case Managers in the WIA and TAA programs through the Bay Area Workforce Development Board.
The group will graduate from the AA degree program in May and will finish the last of their clinicals in Green Bay at the end of June. The group is very determined and has accomplished great things. If you would like to learn more, the group has been featured in the Friends of NWTC magazine and on WFRV news. |
| SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD IS BLAZING THE PATH! |
| The Southeast Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, in partnership with UW-Parkside and UW-Extension, is presenting a Workforce Development Certificate Program. This course offers a series of five speaker modules combined with online learning for a dynamic overview of the career advising and workforce development fields. Created around the ten core competencies established by the National Association of Workforce Development, Blazing the Pathway is sure to be an informative and insightful event. Please click here for more information about dates and speakers. |
KUDOS FOR WISCONSIN'S WORKFORCE BOARDS!
|
The Wisconsin Workforce Development Association has collected a number of 1-2 minute testimonials from employers, workers, and youth about their experiences with the Workforce Boards and the enormous impact on their lives. You can now view them on YouTube at
|
