Workforce Update is a quarterly newsletter produced by the Workforce Division of the South Carolina Department of Commerce. It showcases stories and news regarding issues in workforce development.

Each issue contains four sections: The "Discovery" section features workforce programs that show promise as emerging best practices; "Success" highlights the positive effects Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services are having on individuals and businesses; "Driving the Economy" features WIA training programs that are supporting economic development efforts around the state; and "News You Can Use" highlights the latest stories and briefs concerning workforce development. We hope this edition of Workforce Update is informative and helpful.

GROW Oklahoma
The state of Oklahoma is working hard to align workforce and economic development objectives in ways that are very similar to what we are trying to accomplish in South Carolina. The GROW Oklahoma campaign focuses on that state's skills gap in three critical areas:

• Building better education and training systems

• Delivering better talent recruitment solutions for businesses

• Communicating the importance of workforce development and education as economic drivers


Read more about the Initiative on the GROW Oklahoma Web site.





Trident Pre-Employment Manufacturing Program Featured in Charleston Daily Business Journal
A May 6 article in the online publication Charleston Daily Business Journal highlighted the Trident Workforce Investment Board's Pre-Employment Training Program. The program connects job-seekers with employment opportunities at companies such as Global Aeronautica, Stanley Associates, Eaton Corporation, Getrag and MAU. In some cases, workers hired by the firms also participate in On-the-Job Training Partnerships to further their skills development after being hired.

Read more at the Charleston Daily Business Journal.



ETA Releases Competency Model for Hospitality Industry Skills
Competency modeling is an innovative way to categorize the specific set of skills needed for a particular job. In April, the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (DOL-ETA) announced that a model for the Hospitality Industry has been developed with the assistance of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. The model could be useful in designing training programs in areas of the state where tourism is a major part of the economy. Competency models also exist for Advanced Manufacturing, Financial Services, Retail and Energy-related occupations.

For more information, visit DOL-ETA's online competency modeling clearinghouse.

Greenville Youth Participant "G.E.A.R."s Up for Success as an EMT
Reported by the Greenville Workforce Investment Board

photo: Dejon Valentine landed a job with the Greenville County EMS after completing a WIA Youth program.

Dejon Valentine is successfully pursuing his career goals in the high-demand field of emergency medical services thanks to his involvement with the Greenville County Workforce Investment Board's Employment and Academic Resources (G.E.A.R.) WIA program. Dejon began with G.E.A.R. in February of 2007. While in the program, he completed his secondary school education and attended occupational skills training at the Greenville Technical College. A summer work experience opportunity with the Greenville County EMS department led to an offer of full time employment as a pre-apprentice. In May of 2008, Dejon received his high school diploma from the Greenville Academy of Academic Excellence. He is now enrolled in the EMS program at Greenville Technical College and is well on his way to reaching his dreams!

For more information about G.E.A.R. and other Youth programs available from the Greenville Workforce Investment Board visit their Web site.

Spartanburg Company Utilizing On-the-Job Training to Create New Jobs and Economic Opportunity
Reported by the Upstate Workforce Investment Board

photo: Matt Johnson helped develop a new Division at Integral Solutions after joining the Company though an On-the-Job Training Partnership with the Upstate WIB

Spartanburg-based Integral Solutions has taken advantage of the On-the-Job Training (OJT) program offered by the Upstate Workforce Investment Board to build the company and provide some high-skilled employment opportunities that might otherwise be lost to overseas competition.

"The OJT program is having a huge impact on our ability to develop a qualified workforce to compete globally by allowing us to create higher paying professional jobs here in Spartanburg and give opportunities for unskilled workers to learn valuable skills such as welding and urethane molding," said company owner Pete Brown. "Thanks to the OJT program, we are able to create products here in Spartanburg that would otherwise be sourced from Europe or Asia."

Matt Johnson came to Upstate Career Source when the company he was working for closed down. Career Source was able to place Matt at Integral Solutions, where he was instrumental in developing the company's custom molded urethane division. Johnson is currently working with Upstate Career Source's Business Services team on an apprenticeship program which will develop even more employment opportunities and provide a skilled workforce for the Urethane Molding Department. Integral Solutions' OJT partnership with the Upstate WIB is paying big dividends to the company and the community.

Find out more about Business Services provided by the Upstate Workforce Investment Board
on their Web site.

ACT Study Shows Similar Skills Needed for Successful Job Training or College
Results of a new ACT study provide evidence that whether planning to enter college or workforce training programs after graduation, high school students need to be educated to a comparable level of readiness in reading and mathematics. Graduates need this level of readiness if they are to succeed in college-level courses without remediation or enter workforce training programs ready to learn job-specific skills.

Read more on the ACT Web site.


National Council on Competitiveness Releases Skills Report
Thrive - The Skills Imperative provides an analysis of the key trends underpinning future workforce skills challenges and opportunities in the U.S. Slowing growth of the U.S. workforce has the potential to slow economic output if the productivity of American workers does not increase. By combining findings from the 2006 Competitiveness Index: Where America Stands with real-world business cases, Thrive demonstrates an urgent need for the U. S. to develop a national skills agenda to be competitive in the global economy and ensure a rising standard of living for its citizens.

Read more on the Council's Web site.


TechReadySC Launched
A new program of study in advanced manufacturing designed to meet the needs of Upstate employers launched in May. Spartanburg Community College, Greenville Technical College, Piedmont Technical College, Tri-County Technical College and York Technical College will offer a uniform, comprehensive technical degree program in "mechatronics" developed with a grant from a Duke Energy foundation. The mechatronics course of study will offer a cross-disciplinary approach to learning in-demand skills needed in advanced manufacturing operations such as BMW North America's Spartanburg plant. The Spartanburg Herald-Journal reported on the new Initiative in its May 22 online edition.

Read more on the GoUpstate.com Web site.


DOL Announces TAA Funding for South Carolina
On May 28, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced the release of $5,750,000 to assist trade-affected workers in South Carolina. The funding, provided through the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, will enable the state to continue providing training to workers certified as eligible to receive TAA benefits. South Carolina received an initial $8,603,428 TAA allocation in October of 2007.

For more information visit the DOL Web site.


U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Releases Report on WIA Technical and Community College Collaboration
In May the USGAO released the report: Community Colleges and One-Stop Centers Collaborate to Meet 21st Century Workforce Needs. The report focuses on four topics:
• How community colleges meet the workforce training needs of their communities;
• What community colleges do to integrate with the nation's one-stop system;
• What conditions or practices that enhance or impede these efforts; and
• What actions have the Departments of Labor and Education taken to encourage linkages between community colleges and the workforce investment system, including One-Stops.

Read a summary or download the full report on the GAO's Web site.


Aiken Tech to Develop Workforce Training Programs for the "Hydrogen Economy"
On June 6, Aiken Technical College announced that ATC and Texas State Technical College Waco (TSTC Waco) have been awarded National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education planning grants of more than $69,000 to develop a strategic plan for hydrogen energy workforce development.

"The adoption of hydrogen energy technologies by industries in Aiken and throughout the nation presents significant opportunities for economic development," said Dr. Winsor. "However, these opportunities will challenge technical training programs to educate the workforce in a field where technologies are rapidly emerging. This NSF grant will help ATC, TSTC Waco, and technical educators across the nation understand how to best meet the needs of the dynamic and growing hydrogen economy."

Read more on the fuelcellworks.com Web site.


Adult Learning in Focus
According to new report out from the non-profit Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), the traditional K-16 educational pipeline will not be adequate to meet the demand for a skilled, flexible workforce in the coming decades without a serious increase in emphasis on adult education.

The full report is available on the CAEL Web site.

South Carolina Department of Commerce
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