Using Your Public Workforce Development System

What it can and should be doing for your company…

North Shore Workforce Investment Board One of 16 boards across the state and 500 across the

country. Charged by Congress to help individuals and businesses

access public support and dollars to address workforce challenges.

Led by Board of Directors comprised of business and community leaders.

Serving 19 cities and towns north of Boston; headquartered in Salem.

Oversees about $5 million in federal and state workforce funding per year.

North Shore Career Centers The primary vehicle chartered by the WIB to get these

services out to our customers. Available to all businesses and individuals – universal

access. Offices located in Lynn, Salem, and Gloucester. Dedicated to high quality, continuously improving

service.

Why do we exist?

Workforce TruismsWe are truly in a global marketplace, effected by technology gains, globalization, and productivity factors.The skills demanded of our labor force have never been higher, particularly if workers are to earn a family-sustaining wage.Business is continually changing its needs and expectations of workers.Workers are continually changing their needs and expectations of business.Government programs have not been easy to access or particularly helpful.Everyone and every company needs help.

Further Complications in Massachusetts and New England

Slow labor force growth rate

General higher skilled nature of business

Expensive place in which to do business

Expensive place to live

Our Legislative Mandate

To provide easily accessible, high quality workforce servicesto all businesses and individuals in the region

To ensure that decisions on spending are made locally through the leadership of local business and community experts

To establish an on-going, high quality system that meets the needsof our local economy

What the WIB does:

Labor Market ResearchPlanning and policy design around local needs

Allocation of federal and state dollars to meet these needs

Chartering of our Career Centers to carry out these policies

Convening partners – business, education, community organizations- to make this system

effective

What the Career Center does:

Provides a location at which all publicly funded services are available.

Integrates the management of these services so that they are seamless to the customer.

Commits to high quality, easily accessible services that respond on

a timely basis to the real needs of business and individuals.

North Shore Workforce SystemWhat we do for the individual

Career Assessment and GuidanceLabor Market information and Guidance

Financial assistance toward education/re-trainingWorkshops/Support during job search process

Job developmentJob placement

Example of service to job seeker:

Aid in the re-employment of dislocated manufacturing workers.

Provide assistance to young workers attempting to enter the vocational trades.

Career assessment services for health care employees attempting to gain advancement in their

industry.

North Shore workforce SystemWhat we do for business

Job posting, screening, referralsLabor Market Information

Assistance in developing and financing training

Assistance in expansion or reduction of labor force

Referral to education and training vendorsDevelopment of cross-industry collaborations to address systemic issues within an industry

Example of service to business:

UPS

General Electric

Banking Collaborative

Trades Collaborative

North Shore Workforce SystemWhat we do for the community

Labor Market Research

Transportation Studies

Public Information Seminars

Contact Information:

Mary Sarris, Executive DirectorNorth Shore Workforce Investment Board

978-741-3805msarris@shore.net

Mark Whitmore, DirectorNorth Shore Career Centers

978-825-7231mwhitmore@detma.org