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February 8, 2012
HOUSE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO GET PREVIEW OF JOINT REPORT
The House Higher Education Committee will review the results of the collaborative supply and demand report soon to be released by the Workforce Board, the Higher Education Coordinating Board and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. You can learn about other legislative activities and get a preview of some of the slides from the presentation.
WORKERS TO GAIN COLLEGE CREDITS WITH WORKPLACE-BASED LEARNING
Workers will earn college credits, receive online instruction, and advance their career prospects with the help of their employers as part of a new Workplace-based Learning Initiative. The Workforce Board selected three programs for funding, with the focus on Vancouver area hospital workers, child care workers in Whatcom and Skagit counties, and machinist apprentices statewide who will now be able to pursue engineering careers.
BEST PRACTICE AWARDEES TO BE HONORED IN THE CAPITOL THURSDAY
Recipients of the Governor's Best Practice Awards in Workforce and Economic Development will be officially honored on Thursday, 3 to 4 p.m. in the Rotunda of the Legislative Building.
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COUNCIL SEEKING CHAIR
The Department of Commerce is currently recruiting for a Developmental Disabilities Council Chair. This is a governor-appointed volunteer position with a three-year term. Applications needed by March 5, 2012.
February 1, 2012
HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE REPORT FEATURES PROGRAM COMPLETIONS
The 2011 annual report of the state's Health Care Personnel Shortage Task Force features program completion data and a projection of supply and demand for 36 health care professions in Washington.
AWB SHARES RESULTS OF MANUFACTURING FOCUS GROUPS
The Association of Washington Business has summarized its findings from a recent series of focus groups with manufacturers in Moses Lake, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Everett and Mount Vernon. See "2012 Challenges & Opportunities for Manufacturers in Washington."
WORKFORCE BOARD FILES FEDERAL PERKINS REPORT
Lost in the end of year rush and winter snows was the filing of the Consolidated Annual Report under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. This technical report contains details about Washington activities funded by federal Perkins dollars.
CAREER AND COLLEGE ADVISING TOOLS FOCUS ON DISADVANTAGED RESIDENTS
Seattle Jobs Initiative has just released two new online tools designed to advance the efforts of community-based providers in assisting low-income and low-skill residents to prepare for, access and persist in college on their way to obtaining a credential and a better-paying career.
BILLS ARE MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE
The 2012 Legislative session shifts its activities temporarily away from committees and hearings to full assembly debates and voting this week and next week. You can learn about workforce-related bills under consideration on our legislative page.
January 26, 2012
WORKFORCE BOARD MEETING MATERIALS NOW ONLINE
If you've been to our Workforce Board meeting agenda page and not found materials posted for tomorrow's meeting in Tumwater, please try now. The Workforce Board begins its work at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.
EVERGREEN LEADERSHIP TEAM RELEASES 2011 REPORT
Legislation in 2009 created an interagency team to coordinate the state's efforts to create "green" jobs and to train workers in the skills needed for these jobs. The team's 2011 report lists the progress of the state's many initiatives and identifies barriers and opportunities for success.
SEATTLE-KING COUNTY WDC CEO HONORED BY U.S. MAYORS CONFERENCE
The U.S. Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council has awarded Marléna Sessions, CEO of the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, with its first-ever Distinguished Service Award.
50 BILLS RELATED TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE
Three weeks into the 2012 Legislative Session, our tracking list contains more than 50 bills related to workforce development. See: www.wtb.wa.gov/2012sessionbills.asp
January 19, 2012
LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO MEET DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER
Relatively few legislative hearings have been cancelled during the snow and ice storm (Cancellations just announced for all of today's 3:30 p.m. committee meetings and for tonight's Pathways to Prosperity joint House committee session) Meanwhile, a number of workforce-related bills have been introduced. We have updated our legislation page and will add next week's calendar of committee activities by Friday noon.
WORKFORCE BOARD TO REVIEW HIGHER EDUCATION/TRAINING NEEDS REPORT
The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board will hold its regularly scheduled meeting Friday, January 27 starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Department of Labor & Industries Building in Tumwater. The online agenda will include meeting materials when we recover from the snow.
RETOOLING INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESS STORIES, ACHIEVEMENTS
The Workforce Board staff and its partners have prepared the Retooling Washington's Workforce 2011 report detailing how Washington's workforce development system is "addressing today's needs and building a stronger economy." The report includes a dashboard of performance indicators and detailed examples from the state's workforce development areas.
January 12, 2012
FIELD OF STUDY CAN BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EDUCATION LEVEL
When measured soon after graduation, people with community college certificates or applied associate's degrees, on average, have slightly higher earnings in Washington than the average of those with four-year degrees, according to a presentation made by Workforce Board Deputy Director Bryan Wilson. However, the field of study can make a bigger difference in earnings and employment level. Dr. Wilson's presentation before the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Committee yesterday received advance attention in a KPLU story.
HARVARD REPORT AUTHOR TO TESTIFY BEFORE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES
William Symonds, author of a Harvard education reform report calling for multiple pathways, will present to the Senate Education Committee and a joint meeting of three House committees on Thursday, January 19. View the legislative schedule.
NATIONAL EFFORT ENLISTS EMPLOYERS IN SUMMER YOUTH WORK EMPHASIS
The White House announced Summer Jobs+, a new call to action for businesses, non-profits, and government to work together to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth in the summer of 2012.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON STATE CAPITAL
The Washington Economic Development Association Winter Conference will feature a legislative panel, a variety of economic development presentations as well as updates on Project Pegasus (aerospace) and the Retooling Washington's Workforce initiative. The conference is in Olympia, Februrary 13-14,
JANUARY 5, 2012
LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS NEXT MONDAY
The Legislature starts its 2012 session with a week of committee hearings, many covering education and training topics. The Workforce Board maintains a calendar of legislative activities and bills related to workforce development issues . . . Starting now
WASHINGTON REPORTS ON STATUS OF MANUFACTURING SKILLS CERTIFICATION SYSTEM
Washington's progress in embracing a manufacturing skills certification system is detailed in a report submitted to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) last week. The Workforce Board and a number of important stakeholders submitted the report which included a survey of community college use of five NAM-endorsed certifications.
FOREIGN WORKERS HELP FILL STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SKILLS GAP
In 2010, Washington firms employed almost 18,000 workers (predominantly information technology professionals) from other countries through a federal work visa program. Washington's use of the H-1B visa program is above the national average. See new report.
MEASURING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR
The Washington Department of Commerce, Washington Economic Development Association and the Association of Washington Cities are sponsoring a one-hour webinar presentation by Miles Friedman on measuring the impact of economic development, 10 a.m. January 17. To learn more and register ($35 for association members and $60 for non-members).
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