Transcript Document

Effective Rapid Response Strategies for
Nontraditional (and Other) Customers
Preliminary Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey
Maria Heidkamp
Heldrich Center for Workforce Development
ETA Region 1 Forum, April 28, 2009
1
Characteristics Shared by Best
Practice States in Rapid Response
Best Practice States in Rapid Response:
•
View Rapid Response as a critical service and give Rapid Response staff
a prominent role in the workforce system.
•
Have a well-trained, highly capable and professional Rapid Response
staff that functions as a team.
•
Engage in proactive partnerships and intelligence-gathering, not just
responding to WARNs.
•
Provide the maximum amount of early intervention / pre-layoff transition
assistance to workers facing job loss and follow up with effective postlayoff assistance when needed.
•
Are quick to get resources where they are needed, use resources flexibly,
and track expenditures.
•
Monitor and evaluate the results of their policies, collect customer
feedback, and seek opportunities for continuous improvement of their
services.
Highlights from April 2009
Heldrich Center Rapid Response
Survey
Based on 28 states that responded (as of 4/27/09):
• Nearly every state reported a substantial increase in layoff
activity, both WARN and non-WARN.
• Many states reported 20-33% increases in number of layoffs,
with several reporting doubling and tripling of layoffs
compared to same period last year.
• Some states (ND, AK, VT, MT) continue to see increases
primarily in non-WARN layoffs.
• Many states gave examples of how insufficient notice is
affecting their RR efforts – necessitating more outreach to
dislocated workers after the fact.
3
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey:
Early Warning Strategies
• More use of UI info: ME contacts any company with 5 or more
layoffs; OK maintains a “watch list” of companies.
• Several mentioned closer partnerships with economic
development than in the past and relying more on BSRs.
• CT: Developing a new EWS based on statistical modeling; also
reaching out to employers, Congressional delegation, state
legislators, and media.
• NY: Developing new Early Alert System.
• VT: Created a new Economic Response Team.
• NJ: State WARN increasing compliance.
• IA: New layoff aversion grant demo project underway.
4
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey:
Increasing Staff
• 8 states reported hiring more Rapid Response staff,
training them on the job, or through a mix of group
sessions (presentation skills, etc.) and job shadowing.
• NY: Trying to get around a hiring freeze for federally
funded programs
• Others states: Devoting more existing staff resources
to Rapid Response, including Business Services
Specialists, and cross-training staff on RR, TAA, and
dislocated worker services
5
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey:
Multi-Employer Responses
• 10 states reported more Multi-Employer Responses
• WI: using multi-employer worker orientations due to overall
level of activity and increase in events where workers are laid
off before initial RR intervention can occur. Outreach to
affected workers is made through PSAs and direct mailings.
• CO: Conducting workshops open to any laid off workers at
hotels and other event centers
• HI: Starting to do more multi-employer responses, including
one organized by several unions and one for an employer and
its contractors
6
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey:
Multi-Employer Responses
• MT: Conducting community rapid response sessions in order to
reach individuals who have been laid off from small
businesses. In some cases only 1-2 lose their jobs, and Job
Service Workforce Centers aren't informed about them. By
holding Community Resource and Interagency Rapid Response
Workshops, all dislocated workers and their families are
invited to learn about services they may be eligible for.
7
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey:
Targeting Specific Populations
• About half the states said they were increasing targeting of services to
specific groups of workers.
• NY: Using NEG funds to support staff from Varick St. office who would be
dedicated to serving financial sector dislocated workers, including
professionals, clerical, maintenance, etc. Also expanding training (longer
term, higher level training and up to $12,500 and two years).
• CT: Using NEG funds to establish new Outplacement Center in Stamford
geared toward financial services sector, serving suburban CT and NY and
offering services similar to private sector outplacement (career counseling,
job search support, retraining)
• NJ: has held 3 special Resource Events at community colleges geared
toward financial and peripheral sector white collar workers, who were sent
invitations to attend. Experts from growth sectors (green, energy, logistics,
etc.) presented on potential opportunities for those with certain skill sets. UI
and One Stop info also available.
• NJ: 12 Professional Services Groups, increased participation with nearly
1,200 active members in March.
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey:
Targeting Specific Populations
• NH: Expanding one-stop services to better suit needs of white collar
professionals, e.g., resume services, higher level job search skills, job clubs
• MN: Requesting more NEGs than before, targeting large layoffs occurring
in different locations (automotive, airline)
• WI: Providing more early intervention services in paper and auto industries
including on-site readjustment centers and expanded worker intake and
orientation sessions.
• IL: Auto industry suppliers
• VT: Mature workers
• MT: Natural resources, timber and mining
• DC: BRAC-impacted workers
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey:
Increased Use of Worksharing
• 18 respondents reported an increase in employer use
of STC and other layoff aversion techniques
• KS: 138 companies used worksharing in 2008; 148 so
far in 1st Qtr 2009
• SC: Companies with decreased production are more
receptive to preventive assistance such as upgrading
worker skills
• Most states noted increases in furloughs, alternate
work weeks, rotating employees, voluntary and
indefinite layoffs
10
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey: Use of
Libraries and Other New Partners
• 23 states indicated an increase in partnerships with libraries and other
nonprofit community and faith-based organizations.
• SC: Libraries have the space, staff, and hours of operation to help dislocated
workers who don’t need intensive One Stop services. LWIAs are providing
them with computers if needed.
• MT: Libraries are seeing a 60% increase in the use of computer resources;
customers filing for UI benefits and doing job searches online. MT is
posting info on local service providers and resources at libraries.
• WI: Libraries and also UW-Extension providing new support services.
• CT: DOL met with Business Librarian Roundtable to explain services. CT’s
mobile career center - Career Express Bus – is a frequent visitor to libraries
providing career counseling, job search skills, and resume critiquing. Local
office staff provide workshops in libraries. Libraries are hosting Job Clubs.
11
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey: Training
& Partnership with Community Colleges
• Nearly all states said they were increasing the emphasis on training, and
longer dislocations due to economy allow for longer training programs.
• KY: Making CCs part of the RR team
• TX: Skills Development Fund requires all training to be done by CCs
• MT: Some colleges are reducing tuition for DWs
• WI: State plans to dedicate 70% of ARRA formula funds to training in highwage, high-demand fields (healthcare, green and advanced manufacturing).
Training system capacity is a major issue including lack of classroom space,
faculty, clinical sites, etc. Many in-demand training program, such as in the
health sector, have long waiting lists.
• NY: Creating stronger partnerships with CCs to identify quality training
programs that address the skills needs of key and growing sectors
• VA: CCs provide transition workshops on-site for dislocated workers prior
to their last day of work.
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey:
Peer Counselors and LMCs
• A number of states reported increased use of peer
counselors and LMCs
• ME: Record number of peer support workers and
community transition teams across state
• MN: These tools are especially helpful when
workforce has literacy issues and other barriers.
• VA: Peer counselors increase state’s capacity and
LMCs increase communication especially for layoffs
from a single employer with multiple locations
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey:
Connecting to Sector Strategies
• Nearly all states said they were making
stronger connections to sector initiatives and
looking for career paths for dislocated workers
especially around green, high tech, biotech,
healthcare, construction
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey:
Using ARRA Resources to Enhance RR
• Several states: Using ARRA funds to support increased staff for RR,
and most using ARRA funds to prepare workers for high-growth
jobs.
• TX: Several boards are setting up Transition Centers.
• MA: Using a new 3-tier approach to services that includes more
assessment up front, more follow-up, and intensive services after
referral.
• VT: Increasing outreach to customers; taking new look at
Reemployment Services in-house; discussing group intakes;
providing additional monetary resources for dislocated workers.
• KS: Looking at ways to make the process seamless and smooth for
DWs and providing them with the best information possible to make
decisions about their next job or training opportunities, which
requires improved relationships with UI and LMIS.
Highlights from April 2009 Heldrich
Center Rapid Response Survey:
Other Innovative Strategies
• TX: Increasing use of Virtual Job Fairs
• WI: Focusing on identifying non-manufacturing service sector
layoffs that may qualify under new TAA
• CA: Alameda County considering procuring services of
outplacement firms for WARN layoffs to increase capacity.
• NY: Hempstead local area implementing a RIG to improve RR
services by linking worker skills with transformative industries
• NJ: Rapid Reemployment Initiative (labor exchange website)
• VA: Used Facebook to reach dislocated workers who had been
laid off without notice
16
Questions, comments
and discussion
• Thank you very much!
Maria Heidkamp
[email protected]
www.heldrich.rutgers.edu
17