Will Jane Oates, our new Under Secretary of Labor, implement our recommendations

As most of you know, NetAssets polls our readers to get feedback on important Workforce Development issues.
 
Last month, we asked the following question: How many employer-based customized job training programs has your organization completed within the last 24 months?
 
Less than 50% of those responding to the survey indicated they had one or more employer-based customized job training programs over the last 2 years.
 
I view these results as a weak connection with employers; and I don’t buy the argument that employers are not hiring. In aggregate, the recruiting business has contracted significantly, but if you go to any recruitment conference you will see plenty of happy faces from those staffing companies serving niche markets.
 
More significant, I believe, are the comments that came back. Here are three responses that uncover continuing dilemmas for us:
Given Limited Resources, Which Customer Is Our Priority?
Public workforce development orgs are required to serve the hardest to place individuals. Private sector recruiting and staffing agencies select who they serve, the ones easiest to place. I do agree that the primary customer is the employer, and employer-based customized training should be at the top of the list of training services.
 
How Do You Serve the Employer If You Are Told to Serve The Least Skilled?
Customized training will only be possible if tied specifically to high demand jobs with high wages requiring skilled labor. Unfortunately, WIA policy focuses on those that are chronically unemployed with low skills--not particularly appealing to employers.
 
WIA Regulations Are Not Attractive to Employers
Our lengthy contract with all the language about allowing monitors to review their records, and our inability to guarantee we will follow through in case of funding cuts, makes it very difficult to partner with employers.
 
Perhaps our new Administration will address these issues openly and candidly and implement our recommendations.

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