Workforce Update - July 2024

Federal Workforce Policy Updates

NAWB Condemns Deep Funding Cuts Approved by House Appropriations Committee

The House Appropriations Committee approved the FY25 Labor-HHS-Education spending bill on July 10, by a 31-25 party-line vote. Disappointingly, the bill reduces funding for WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker Employment and Training and wholly eliminates funding for WIOA Youth Job Training. These drastic cuts to our nation’s workforce development system would cut employment opportunities and training for 134,000 youth and 250,000 adults. 

“It’s time for Congress to make a real investment in workers, learners, and employers, especially at a time when there are over 8 million job vacancies in our country,” said Brad Turner-Little, NAWB’s president and CEO. “Filling those jobs with skilled workers is essential to ensuring economic vitality in all our communities.” 

Learn more about the bill and read the NAWB full statement.

WIOA Reauthorization

Chris Andresen of the US Workforce Association is reporting that the Senate WIOA markup has been pushed until September (if at all).

According to Andresen, the Senate HELP Committee staff is preparing a staff-level briefing on updated WIOA bill text which considers comments that have been submitted by various stakeholder groups. That briefing did occur on July 23 but release of text more broadly has been delayed over lingering disagreements over specific policies, including those related to employer related sanctions and ETPL eligibility. Business groups have pushed hard against that while unions have been forceful that the language remain in the current bill.

Broadly, there is a shared goal with the House and Senate Committee staff to have a final product for the House and Senate to vote on in September 2024. 

WIOA-HELP Bipartisan Senate Discussion Draft

Section-by-section Summary of the Senate WIOA Draft Bill

TAWB Senate WIOA Reauthorization Letter Template

Latest News

Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas wins TEDC Award

Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas, Orange County along with Golden Triangle Polymers were amongst the winners for their collaborative efforts on the Local First project in Orange County. This initiative focuses on hiring local skilled labor workers first, showcasing a strong commitment to supporting the local workforce.

North Texas colleges want to make transferring between schools easier, saving saving students time and money

Thousands of Texas transfer students each year don’t get credit for some community college courses. The partnership seeks to address that.

Recent wave of illegal immigration could net the federal government nearly $1 trillion, study says

The CBO estimates the immigration surge will create $1.2 trillion in federal revenue over the next decade, mostly from income taxes and spending by the estimated 8.7 million migrants living in the U.S. during that time. Those same migrants would cost the federal government just $300 billion in health care and other costs, according to the estimate, bringing the net benefit to $900 billion.

The US economy is pulling off something historic

Economic growth in the first half of the year was solid, with the economy expanding a robust 2.8% annualized rate in the second quarter, according to fresh Commerce Department figures released Thursday, which are adjusted for inflation and seasonal swings.

A small Texas school district feels inflation squeeze with base state funding stagnant

Sunnyvale ISD watched costs rise but the amount of state money per-student stays the same.

TWC Receives $8.8 Million Award from U.S. Department of Labor for Apprenticeship Expansion

The DOL Apprenticeship Expansion funding will increase the number of apprentices by creating new and expanding existing Registered Apprenticeship programs.

Why Gen Z and millennial workers are motivated differently

A productivity expert argues that businesses can’t use a one-size-fits-all approach to keeping young employees engaged.

A Hopeful First Year for New Texas Funding Model

Texas embraced a new, performance-based funding model for community colleges. A year later, campus leaders believe they are starting to see the rewards.

TWC Awarded $4.6 Million Grant to Expand Reentry Workforce Services

The funding, which comes from the U.S. Department of Labor in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, will be used to extend employment services to individuals who are incarcerated or released from federal prisons.

60% of newly arrived migrants find jobs

Study by Dallas Fed says immigration ‘wave’ of past few years is boosting U.S. economy.

Paid or unpaid, child care is vital to the economy. This program recognizes that

There's increased urgency from federal and state policymakers and businesses to ensure communities have access to affordable, high-quality child care, paving the way for parents — especially women — to work, an essential element of a robust and well-functioning economy.

The Brand Amplifier for Workforce & Education

TAWB is now live with The Brand Amplifier for Workforce & Education course in partnership with Full Capacity Marketing (FCM). You can check out the landing page for all the details of the course curriculum, and view the national press release that was released last month.

The online self-paced course comes with templates, case studies and tools to help you build a tailored and doable marketing and communications plan. Click on the flyer here to access learning outcomes and descriptions.

Charting a Course to Quality: A Navigator’s Handbook to a Robust Non-Degree Credential Data Ecosystem

The National Skills Coalition has announced the release of Charting a Course to Quality: A Navigator’s Handbook to a Robust Non-Degree Credential Data Ecosystem: a comprehensive handbook designed to guide states in developing robust data systems for evaluating non-degree credential programs. 

How mentoring programs help manufacturers build a future workforce

Companies like Fastenal and TE Connectivity have launched successful mentorship and training options for current employees and emerging leaders.

How Economic Shifts And Sustainability Needs Are Redefining Jobs

The future of work is shaped by rapid technological advancements, changing economic landscapes and the growing need for sustainability—consequently, strong leadership and innovative research are essential to navigate the complexities of the modern labor market. Notably, approaches on both sides of the Atlantic differ in tackling these challenges.

INVESTING IN WORK-BASED LEARNING PAYS OFF FOR EMPLOYERS

The Texas Business Leadership Council's Q2 “Public Policy for a More Globally Competitive Texas" focuses on durable skills and work-place learning; key elements to increasing Texas’ skilled workforce

Understanding America’s Labor Shortage: The Most Impacted Industries

The U.S. Chamber is closely monitoring trends in job openings, labor force participation, and quit rates affecting industries nationwide. Continue reading to explore an analysis of the industries most significantly affected by these trends.

July Texas Labor Market Review

Monthly newsletter produced by TWC Labor Market and Career Information Department

covering issues relating to the Texas economy.

TAWB is always on the lookout for information about innovative programs that can be

shared and duplicated by other local workforce boards through the TAWB website.

Descriptions may be submitted in narrative form, such as articles and news releases, or

through the TAWB Best Practices Form that can be used to provide basic information

about your program. Recent features include:

Welcome to Workforce Solutions Cameron!

Workforce Solutions Cameron created this 2-minute video, available on YouTube and the WFS Cameron website, to promote the many services provided for employers and job seekers in Cameron County

Celebrating the Success of the 2024 Teacher Externship Program

Southeast Texas Workforce Solutions' 2024 Teacher Externship Program hosted 70 dedicated teachers from 13 school districts across Jefferson, Orange, and Hardin counties teamed up with 16 host sites to gain real-world industry experience.

Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas - Prologis Partnership

Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas recently was recognized by the Texas Economic Development (TEDC) Council as a recipient of TEDC's 2024 Workforce Excellence Award for the Greater Dallas Prologis Partnership. This award nomination form provides a complete summary of the program.

C2 Global Professional Services was founded to offer a viable, and now successfully proven, alternative to what is available in terms of service providers. We look for Workforce Investment Board partners to commit to working beyond workforce dogma to improve communities, invest in staff development to achieve exceptional customer service and invest in innovation and technology to improve the system.

iCEV: Since 1984, iCEV has specialized in providing quality CTE curriculum and educational resources. iCEV is the most comprehensive online resource for CTE educators and students, offering curriculum for several major subject areas, including agricultural science, trade & industrial education, business & marketing, career exploration, family & consumer science, health science, law enforcement and STEM education. Additionally, iCEV acts as a certification testing platform for industry certifications. Nationally and internationally recognized companies and organizations utilize iCEV as the testing platform for their certifications. For more information, visit www.icevonline.com.

The Conover Company has been developing tools for over 40 years to help workforce professionals assess and train their clients with the social and emotional skills for success. Their online tools help you stay focused on outcomes by making sure the assessments drive training so it is meaningful for every individual client you serve and you get the results you are looking for.

Equifax/Carahsoft delivers trusted, unique data, analytics, technology, and expertise to drive innovation and transform knowledge into insights. Equifax empowers government agencies, nonprofit organizations, workforce boards and commercial clients to make more informed decisions, maximize program efficiency, and improve the customer experience. Equifax manages The Work Number®, the largest, centralized commercial repository of consolidated employment and income information for use by the private and public sectors. For customers with a permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), Equifax enables real-time eligibility decisions by providing verifications of employment and income. Data is updated every pay period (as provided by the employer), so you have access to the most up-to-date information to gauge program success of the individuals who have elected to participate in the program. For more information about the Equifax Products and Services visit the website https://www.carahsoft.com/equifax or contact us at 844.747.6222.

Equus Workforce Solutions: Our dedicated and passionate team of 2,500+ workforce

professionals puts the industry's best practices to work across more than 350 North American locations, assisting approximately 1.9 million job seekers and thousands of employers annually. Together with our partners and collaborators, we work every day to change lives, advance economies, and help communities thrive.

Geographic Solutions is the leading provider of integrated software for state and local workforce agencies in over 35 states and U.S. territories. For 30 years, the company has developed innovative online solutions for job seekers, employers, service providers, and agency staff that enhance service delivery and increase customer satisfaction. Geographic Solutions’ custom software solutions effectively manage all federally-funded partner programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and have been designed specifically to meet the diverse needs of American Job Centers, economic development agencies, human service entities, unemployment agencies, departments of corrections, and educational institutions.

Grant Associates is a national, award-winning workforce development company. Since opening our doors in 1997, we have collaborated with government agencies to develop workforce programs and solutions that create the opportunities that advance job seekers, businesses and local economies, all with exceptional results. At Grant Associates, we know every community's workforce needs are unique. With proven models and in active partnership with government, Grant Associates' mission is to tailor solutions that build workforce capacity, proving over the past two decades that our approach helps a community reach its true potential.

KRA Corporation, a national leader in workforce development for 40+ years, supports workforce boards by delivering WIOA, TANF, SNAP-E&T, and related programs, including initiatives targeting specific employer and jobseeker requirements. A black-owned company, KRA leads efforts to integrate DEI into workforce development. We also lead the industry in delivering a consultative approach to business services, and infuse family-focused principles into everything we do. KRA leverages all available resources, partnering to integrate education, skills development, occupational training, support services, and employment. KRA provides the highest levels of innovative programming, exceptional service, and trusted results for all valued clients, businesses, and jobseekers.

Metrix Learning® is an online learning platform designed to meet the needs of states, workforce boards, and their customers. Learners can assess their job skills, remediate skill gaps, and take over 100 certification training programs to prepare for new employment opportunities. Metrix Learning® offers over 6,000 online courses, career pathways tools, digital badges, gamification, and is integrated with WorkInTexas.

Purpose Co is a workforce consulting firm that specializes in designing and implementing custom workforce solutions and strategies that create sustainable outcomes for people and businesses, including pathways to quality in-demand jobs, economic mobility, competitive businesses and regional economic prosperity, including solutions that address the specific needs of job seekers, workers, employers and practitioners.

QuickStart exists to create world-class technologists by personalizing and individualizing training to address the massive skills gap in the IT industry. Through 20 years of research and data analysis, we’ve learned that a modern learner prefers to learn through multiple modalities such as self-paced online learning, virtual instructor-led training, on-the-job training, implementation and hands-on experience through labs, mentoring, and social and peer-to-peer learning. We packaged all the modalities into a single cloud-based platform called CLIPP.

Texas Economic Development Council: The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) is an Austin-based professional association for economic developers across the state of Texas. We are the largest state association of economic development professionals, volunteers, and elected officials. Our membership consists of over 1,000 individuals, representing more than 630 public and private economic development organizations, including more than 400 communities. Our diverse and expansive membership shares a common goal -- bringing new investment and jobs to Texas by developing strategies that promote a positive business climate in our state.