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North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board
WDA 6 - Workforce News Bulletin
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Marlene Schmirler thought she would end her professional career working as a Senior Proof Operator for M&I Bank. But, in August 2009, after 39 years of service, she was told that her position was being eliminated. Feeling very discouraged in her job search and thinking that her age may be playing a role in her not being hired, Marlene turned to the WIA Adult Program for retraining assistance and help with her job search. Immediately upon her enrollment, a plan was set in motion to rework Marlene's resume to highlight her experience and skills and draw attention away from her age. Soon after, Marlene started getting interviews at the hospitals and clinics she was applying to and felt confident she was on the right path to reemployment. Read Marlene's story HERE. |
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Welcome to the North Central WI Workforce Development Board's May - 2013 issue of Workforce News Bulletin.
In This Issue:
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Governor's New Council on Workforce Investment Panel -
Governor Walker recently named the new membership of the Council on Workforce Investment, a federally mandated panel that will advise Walker and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development on a comprehensive workforce development strategy and the allocation of federal workforce development funds.
Appointed by the governor to the new Council on Workforce Investment panel is the NCWWDB Chairman, Kent Olson. The new council will be responsible for approving the Workforce Investment Act plan and will coordinate the efforts of Wisconsin's 11 regional workforce investment boards. Council members will provide valuable input with its representation coming from business, education, legislative and other key groups. A focus on job creation and addressing the skills gap will guide the work of the council. Read more HERE. Back to top
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 NCWWDB Welcomes New Member, Scott Sedlacek The NCWWDB Board recently voted in and welcomed a new member. Joining to serve for a three-year term on its 35 member board is Scott Sedlacek. Sedlacek is a manufacturing management executive with 20 years of solid progressive growth in Wisconsin manufacturing organizations. He has a background in operations management, manufacturing/industrial engineering, maintenance, safety/environmental management, lean manufacturing, material control, and facilities management.
Presently, Sedlacek is the Operations Manager for Oldenburg Group Incorporated in Rhinelander. Oldenburg Group is a global supplier of engineered heavy equipment in the defense and mining markets.
Sedlacek holds the following degrees: AAS, Architecture, NWTC - 2000; BS, Industrial Engineering, Silver Lake College - 2003; MS, Engineering, UW-Platteville - 2008; and MS, Project Management, UW-Platteville - 2009. Back to top
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Metal Manufacturing Survey Focuses on Future Workforce Needs - In an effort to determine future workforce needs, the NCWWDB recently surveyed metal manufacturers in the area. The results were a bit surprising and provided some parallel data pointing to a significant issue looming in our local economy.
Tallied results revealed these manufacturers will need 49 new welders every year through 2020. And, according to Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI), our system has the capacity to only produce 30 welders per year. Alarming, those numbers do not include retirees (or replacement workers). EMSI also shows that over 38% of the welders in the region are over the age of 45. With 38% of the workforce over the age of 45 and a shortage of workers annually, our economy is facing a serious problem. The parallel data I mentioned earlier, indicates there are less people in the same region under the age of 25 than there are in the age range of 45-65 (immediate retirees). This means when the 38% of the welders retire, there will be fewer workers in the population to train to replace them, underscoring what is looming ahead is not a skills gap but more alarmingly, a demographic gap. Read entire article HERE. Back to top For more information about NCWWDB's Employer Services, call Bruce Trimble |
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 Career Spotlight: Computer Support Specialists - We will be taking a closer look at occupations within the Information Technology sector. There are over 3600 individuals employed in computer related occupations in our region and that number is projected to grow by another 300 over the next 5 years. One of the most critical of these occupations is the Computer Support Specialist. Computer support specialists provide help and advice to people and organizations using computer software or equipment. Some, called technical support specialists, support information technology (IT) employees within their organization. Others, called help-desk technicians, assist non-IT users who are having computer problems. The individuals working in this field provide critical support to all of the regions industries by providing those of us without extensive technical training with the guidance we need to navigate technology related issues. Find out more about Computer Support Specialists by clicking HERE. Back to top
For more information on labor market and workforce data contact Ali Konkel at 715-204-1648 or email her at: akonkel@ncwwdb.org.
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Did You Know: May is Older Americans Month? - The Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) has resources to help employerssupport an aging workforce. A recent Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) study shows that the majority of companies have made no special provisions for older workers and don't know the impact that the increasing age of the workforce will have on their recruiting, retention and management policies and practices.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 16.1% of people 65 and older were in the labor force in 2010, up from 12.1 percent in 1990. Among those 65 and older who worked in 2011, 44.3% worked full-time, year-round. Key strategies for celebrating an aging workforce include:
- Anticipating Changing Workforce Needs
- Retaining Experienced Workers
- Maximizing Workplace Performance
For more information and resources on older workers visit: Retaining Older Workers. Read entire article HERE. Back to top
For more information about NCWWDB's Disability Employment Initiative, call Patty Branton at 715-347-3537 or email her at: pbranton@ncwwdb.org.
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 North Central Wisconsin Labor Law Clinic - Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 1000 Imperial Ave., Rothschild, WI, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Labor Law Clinics are educational seminars, which are open to the public and feature WI Department of Workforce Development (DWD) staff explaining many of the laws and rules the agency administers. Topics included this year are: - Deciding Who Is Eligible for Wisconsin UI Benefits
- Defining Misconduct Under WI Unemployment Insurance Law
- An Overview of Wisconsin's Labor Standards Laws
- Workplace Harassment
Sponsored by: The North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board. Get agenda & register HERE. Back to top
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WDA 6
Statistics Report
April 2013
The April 2013 unemployment rate in Wisconsin was 7.1%.
All counties in the NCWWDB region
experienced a decrease in unemployment rates between February and March 2013
Of the ten counties with the highest unemployment rates, four are found in the North Central Region: Vilas 12.3% (3rd highest in the state) Forest 10.9% (6th highest in the state) Adams 10.7% (8th highest in the state) and Oneida 10.3% (9th highest in the state). Portage County has the lowest unemployment rate in the region at 6.8%
One Warn Notice has been issued for the NCWWDA area in 2013.
*WARN is a required communication for those employers with 100 or more employees. Employers with fewer than 100 employees
may have laid people off
during this time.
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WIA
Training Report
Program Year 2012
From July 1, 2012 to May 24, 2013, NCWWDB served 225 Youth, 255 Adults, and 1,250 Dislocated Workers in WIA Title 1 funded programs.
Special Training Projects:
- 8 participants are currently enrolled in a machine tool course at Mid-State Technical College. Participants and their case managers are preparing for the employer event scheduled for June 11th. Program staff is providing assistance with resume writing techniques, online application practice, and mock interview sessions. A class celebration is scheduled for June 18th.
- 12 participants are currently enrolled in the 4th production welding course at Northcentral Technical College. Program staff is also providing this group with resume writing techniques, online application practice, and mock interview sessions in preparation for the June 19th MEP event. A class celebration is being planned for June 27th.
- 14 WIA participants are engaged in a pilot known as PREP (Participants Ready for Employment Project). WIA Dislocated Worker Program staff is providing customized workshops and services to prepare dislocated workers for an informal, pre-interview meeting with Graphic Packaging to highlight their business and future hiring needs.
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WDA 6 Job Center
Workshops Calendar
Check out what's being offered FREE in your local Wisconsin Job Center!
Click here to view calendar
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Symposium
WEDA
Economic Development
Technical Skills Symposium June 4 & 5, 2013
Jefferson Street Inn
201 Jefferson St
Wausau, WI 54403
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WDA 6
Job Center usage report reflects measured statistics comprised of the total number of clients utilizing the resources and core services available at the Adams; Marshfield; Rhinelander; Wausau; & Wis. Rapids
Job Centers each month.
April 2013:
- Total Clients - 4,201
- New Clients - 222
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Agency Visit - 893
(e.g. W2, WIA, etc.)
- Military Vet/Eligible Spouse - 183
- Job Search JCoW- 1,230
- Resume Assist - 31
- Job Search other - 411
- Career Exploration- 87
* Depending on the number of services utilized per visit, clients may be included in
more than one measure.
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Recruitment & Retention Tools for Employers
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Job Center of Wisconsin
Convenient. Fast. Free.
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