|
Greetings!
2013 is fast approaching. This means many of us are finishing up budgets and preparing to look at year-end results. The numbers will tell us many things, such as where costs went up, our productivity per employee and our turnover. One question I hope each of you ask is about employee training. The SKILLS GAP REPORT is in. Employers, educators, and members of the community all have a stake in improving our workforce's capabilities to meet the economy's needs.
Taking that down to the "what can we do?" level calls for us to work with our existing employees to upgrade their skills and to train our new hires into the skilled laborforce our companies require to be successful. Workforce Connection can help you stretch your precious training dollars through Employed Worker grants and new hire On-the-Job Training grants. Workforce Conneciton can even help you locate the training providers you need through their connections with educators and employer organizations like the Marion Regional Manufacturers Association.
One of my Dad's favorite expressions seems most appropriate here: "You don't ask, you don't get." Contact Workforce Connection today. Build a relationship with the team so they can understand your staffing and training needs. Let's all use Workforce Connection to our best advantage to make 2013 our best year in several years and maybe the best year yet!
Wishing you a very Happy New Year,
Darlene Goddard, Board Chair
Workforce Connection
and Executive Director of HR
Winco Mfg., LLC |
|
Spotlight: Marion County BOCC
'Workforce Connection exceeded expectations'
With an operation as large, diverse and complex as the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, hiring the right mix of employees is a critical imperative for the county's third largest public employer. And just as the BOCC relies on its 1,400-plus employees to serve the citizens of Marion County, it also relies on Workforce Connection to help recruit the best employees.
Anita Kinsler, Marion County Human Resources training and recruiting manager, said that Workforce Connection has "exceeded our expectations with our recruiting efforts."
From posting open positions to candidate referrals and preparation to skills assessments and training, Kinsler said "Workforce Connection continues to find creative and cost-saving services for our organization, which serves as a tool to assist Marion County residents with employment."
Click here to find out why the Marion County's BOCC will continue to partner with Workforce Connection to meet its recruiting needs.
|
|
Skills Gap Task Force Convenes
Working Group to Prioritize Recommendations
Workforce Connection will convene  a task force early in the new year to address issues and recommendations in the "Addressing the Skills Gap" report. The regional analysis, presented to the Board of Directors earlier this month, caps a multi-month, tri-county initiative launched last spring by Workforce Connection and its economic and education partners and prepared by Indianapolis-based consultants, Thomas P. Miller and Associates.
The Skills Gap initiative took a deep dive into industries critical to the economic well-being of the region based on existing strengths and competitive advantages. Among those examined - manufacturing; healthcare; information technology; business and financial services; and transportation, distribution and logistics - the analysis found gaps in manufacturing and healthcare industries, as well as the need to move new and emerging workers into the talent pipeline for manufacturing and information technology. The report also identified key "aspirational industries" and critical steps for those. For more details, and to download the complete reports and board presentation, click here.
|
|
Homeless Veterans Stand Down Set
The Homeless Veterans Stand Down is set for Saturday, Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Florida National Guard Armory, 900 S.W. 20th St., in Ocala. Sponsored by the Workforce Connection Veterans Team, the Stand Down is funded by a $5,000 Veterans Stand Down Grant from the National Veterans Homeless Support, Inc. (NVHS) and the Florida Department of children and Families (DCF). The Stand Down provides services such as employment and benefits counseling, health screenings, food, shelter and clothing to homeless veterans.
To date, the growing list of organizations that have pledged support or plan to attend includes the Florida Army National Guard,
The Air Force Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, the Marine Corps League, Marion County Veterans Council, Military Order of the Purple Heart, VFW Orange Lake, Volunteers of America, the American Red Cross, Community Legal Services of Mid Florida, Ocala VA Community Out Patient Clinic,
Florida Vocational Rehabilitation, Marion County Homeless Council,
Rolling Thunder, Department of Veteran Affairs , Good Will Industries Sun Coast and the Salvation Army.
All area service organizations are invited to participate. For more information, or to get involved, contact Kim Smith, Workforce Connection's Lead Local Veterans Employment Representative.
|
|
About Us
 Mission: Workforce Connection brings together citizens, employers and educational providers to develop programs to support high-quality education/training and employment services to meet regional workforce needs.
The regional workforce board sets policy and directs expenditures of more than $8 million in funds that underwrite services provided through the Workforce Connection offices.
Workforce Connection is the local, business-led organization that plans and coordinates quality employment and training services for businesses and individual career seekers in Citrus, Levy and Marion counties.
Each year, approximately 1,500 businesses and more than 36,000 career seekers receive services through the Workforce Connection. Services include professional and technical recruitment, training, targeted talent marketplaces (job fairs) and financial incentives.
|
|
|
Employment Update
The regional unemployment rate for November was 9.2 percent, up 0.1 percent over the month and down 2.4 percent from one year ago. Out of a labor force of 206,777 there were 18,993 jobless, a drop of 135 over the month and 5,016 than November 2011.
The November 2012 unemployment rates, released Friday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), were 9.2 percent in Marion County, up 0.1 percent over the month; 9.2 percent in Citrus County, unchanged since October; and 8.8 percent in Levy County, also unchanged over the month. Florida's not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.9 percent in November, down 0.3 percent, and the national unemployment rate was 7.4 percent, a drop of 0.1 percent.
See Regional Report
See Statewide Report
|
|
Minimum Wage Rises
Effective Jan. 1, Florida's minimum wage increases by 12 cents to $7.79 from the current $7.67, with a minimum wage of at least $4.77 per hour for tipped employees, in addition to tips. State law requires employers who must pay their employees the Florida minimum wage to post a minimum wage notice in a conspicuous and accessible place (in addition to the federal requirement to post a notice of the federal minimum wage which is $7.25). Florida's minimum wage poster is available for downloading in English and Spanish from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
|
|
Employer Trends
Positive employer trends continued in November in the Workforce Connection three-county region with 1,602 open positions posted, representing a 98-percent increase in the number of jobs compared to the same time last year. Additionally, a total of 545 employers posted job openings last month, an increase over the year of 57.5 percent.
Highlights for each of the three counties:
* Citrus County employers posted 305 new jobs, an increase of 112 percent compared to November 2011.
* Levy County had a 35-percent increase in the number of employers posting positions.
* Marion County posted 1,266 open jobs, which was a 100-percent increase over the year and the second highest number of jobs posted per month in the past 12 months. There was also a 48-percent increase over the year in number of employers with open jobs (367), and a 31.5-percent increase in the number of new employers posting jobs.
|
|
Employee Training
Custom Business Training is a win-win for employers and employees. It helps you retain skilled staff, increases productivity and enhances your company's market competitiveness. Best of all, Workforce Connection can offset up to 100 percent of your out-of-pocket costs associated with more than 400 licenses and certifications, including A+/Net+ Certification (IT), Welder and CNC Certifications and OSHA 30 Certificate (manufacturing), EMT/Paramedic Certifications and Certified Phlebotomist (healthcare), and 2-15 Insurance License (insurance).
To learn more, call 800-746-9950 or visit Custom Business Training.
|
|
NetWorker Bulletin
If you missed the latest issues of the NetWorker
bulletin, or if you'd like to pass the information along to those interested in hot jobs and top talent, you can find every issue on our website.
|
|
