O Escritório Executivo de Trabalho e Desenvolvimento da Força de Trabalho anunciou recentemente que o Massachusetts taxa de desemprego caiu para 2,8%, the lowest rate of unemployment since January 2001. An unemployment rate of 2.8% is great news for the Commonwealth and for job seekers looking for a new job or better job. However, it presents challenges to businesses struggling to meet their talent needs, particularly in the face of an força de trabalho envelhecida that is retiring or may retire in the near future. Tight labor markets create opportunities for workforce development and education professionals to create innovative partnerships with industry to prepare Massachusetts residents who are underemployed for better jobs and residents who are unemployed for their next job or first job. It is also an opportunity to bring people back into the labor force who have been disconnected from work for an extended period of time.   This “sector strategy” will help to grow the labor force and to provide opportunities to populations that have not been able to connect to the strong economy. In December, on behalf of Secretary Ronald Walker, II and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Commonwealth Corporation released two requests for qualifications, seeking partnerships that will train and support Massachusetts residents with limited or no attachment to the labor force for jobs that are in demand. These funding opportunities target populations that have faced high rates of chronic unemployment, as identified by a Task Force created by Governor Baker in 2015. The Task Force focused on African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, individuals with disabilities and Gulf War Era II Veterans, populations with unemployment rates ranging from 7 percent to 20 percent. This approach to preparing Massachusetts residents for work builds partnerships of community-based organizations, multiple employers, workforce organizations and educational institutions that will design training that meets the hiring requirements of specific businesses with immediate hiring needs. These partnerships will include organizations that have experience working with individuals with limited labor force attachment and connecting individuals to the supports necessary to ensure that they are able to complete training and succeed in the workplace. The partnerships’ programs will be funded through the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund and the Health Care Workforce Transformation Fund, consistent with the demand-driven strategy prioritized by Governor Baker and Secretary Ronald Walker, II. We know this approach works. Our last WCTF grant round, Abordando a lacuna de habilidades intermediárias, finalizado em junho de 2016. Este programa concedeu $4,5 milhões a 15 organizações para treinar e colocar desempregados e subempregados à procura de emprego entre 2013-2016. Nossos resultados são os seguintes:
  • 903 candidatos a emprego foram inscritos e 817 (90%) completaram a formação;
  • 670 pessoas foram colocadas em empregos em 447 empresas; isto é 82% de graduados e 74% de participantes, em comparação com um matrícula nacional para colocação taxa de 56% para programas semelhantes; e,
  • 83% deles foram retidos por pelo menos 6 meses em comparação com uma média nacional de 64% e estavam ganhando uma média de $15.02.
Seja enfrentando uma economia forte ou desafiadora, estamos comprometidos em investir em parcerias com a indústria, educação e força de trabalho para atender às necessidades de empresas e trabalhadores em MA. Celebramos o sucesso de Massachusetts em conectar mais trabalhadores ao emprego nas empresas de nosso estado e continuaremos a trabalhar para apoiar programas de treinamento orientados pela demanda que alcancem bons resultados de colocação.