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The Middle 40. Certificates, Flexibility and Leverage August 23, 2012. Key Workforce Policy Questions. How do you move the unemployed into jobs, low income earners into better jobs, and keep middle income earners competitive?
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The Middle 40 Certificates, Flexibility and Leverage August 23, 2012
Key Workforce Policy Questions • How do you move the unemployed into jobs, low income earners into better jobs, and keep middle income earners competitive? • How do you assure that business have workers with the skills they need today and tomorrow? • How do you create systems and structures with the flexibility to serve working learners? • Where do you get the greatest return on investment?
Oregon’s Workforce System • 200,000+ job seekers in 2011 • More individuals who have higher skills, lower skills, disabilities, minority status, lost their standing in the middle class, older and younger workers who can’t get a foot in the door, • About $180 million is federal and state resources • 40+ WorkSource Oregon sites • 40% of those assessed lack the math skills and 25% lack the reading skills to succeed in the majority of jobs. • Serve the 54% of the workforce of 2025 that is already working • These working learners will not access education in a linear fashion
Fundamental changes in the market 1. Changing career pathways 2. Changing employer-employee relationship 3. Changing role of technology 4. Changing educational currency
Technical Certificates • “cost-effective tool for increasing postsecondary educational attainment and gainful employment.” • effective on-ramp to college especially for low-income, minority and immigrants. • Help incumbent workers move up • Help the unemployed/underemployed to get a foot in the door. • Can make up for a lack of general academic preparation. • “often pay off more than two-year degrees and sometimes pay off more than four-year degrees.”
Keys to certificates and labor market relevance • Getting a job in the field for which you were certified – job placement. • Getting certified in higher paying/higher demand areas – career counseling • Industry recognized – labor market research
Policy questions/opportunities • Defining “certificate” • To include options like the NCRC, industry recognized credentials • Supporting flexible delivery mechanisms • Online (including “off the shelf” and business association developed) delivery • Learn and earn • Hybrid
Agnes BalassaGovernor’s Workforce Policy Advisoragnes.balassa@state.or.us503.986.6630