Located in:
- II. Strategic Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a Strategic Planning Elements section that analyzes the State’s current economic environment and identifies the State’s overall vision for its workforce development system. The required elements in this section allow the State to develop data-driven goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce and to identify successful strategies for aligning workforce development programs. Unless otherwise noted, all Strategic Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs.
- a. Economic, Workforce, and Workforce Development Activities Analysis
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an analysis of the economic conditions, economic development strategies, and labor market in which the State’s workforce system and programs will operate.
- 2. Workforce Development, Education and Training Activities AnalysisThe Unified or Combined State Plan must include an analysis of the workforce development activities, including education and training in the State, to address the education and skill needs of the workforce, as identified in Education and Skill Levels of the Workforce above, and the employment needs of employers, as identified in Employers' Employment Needs above. This must include an analysis of –
- 2. Workforce Development, Education and Training Activities Analysis
- a. Economic, Workforce, and Workforce Development Activities Analysis
II. a. 2. C. State Workforce Development Capacity
Current Narrative:
Personnel
The WDS employs a number of professional staff throughout the state to fulfill its mission to put West Virginians to work by providing career and training services to the various participants in the labor market.
WorkForce West Virginia employs 345 permanent employees and 80 temporary employees statewide. Staffing includes the positions of Employment Program Interviewers, Veterans Representatives, Unemployment Insurance Deputy’s, Administrative/Supervisory staff, and Support Staff of various job categories. WorkForce West Virginia is a one-stop center for work force resources, including job opportunities, unemployment compensation, training, tax incentives, veteran’s services and labor market information. WorkForce WV staff play a vital role in providing services at 17 One Stop Centers located strategically throughout the state. WorkForce WV services are available to claimants, job seekers and employers using the largest online database of job seekers and job openings in the state.
WV Adult Education employs over 200 Local Teachers (82 part-time, 120 full-time), paraprofessionals, and administrative/supervisory staff to provide educational services to adult learners in the State. Over 60% of the Adult Education Teachers have more than three years of teaching experience, and over 90 of Adult Education Teachers have a specialized certification (i.e., Adult Education, K-12, Special Education, or TESOL). WV Adult Education employs six Regional Coordinators located in six of the eight Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA). The Regional Coordinators provide technical assistance to program administrators and instructors in the areas of student retention, professional development, data management, partnership development, curriculum and instruction.
DRS employs 102 rehabilitation counselors statewide (as of November 2015), currently serving approximately 13,500 individuals with disabilities. DRS anticipates an increase in the number of consumers in its caseload system to a projected 14,500 individuals in Federal Fiscal Year 2020. DRS also has, as part of its 102 rehabilitation counselors, a subset of 45 counselor positions assigned to high schools throughout the State to provide pre-employment transition services, as well as other services, to students with disabilities. Additionally, DRS has 12 Employment Specialists throughout the State maintaining relationships with businesses, providing job placement and job development services, and acquiring labor market information.
Locations
West Virginia’s WDS provides convenient coverage for all 55 counties of the State. Workforce development services are provided from over 100 locations, with higher concentrations in more densely populated areas.
One of the goals of WorkForce WV Career Centers is to offer job seekers and employers ready access to the many workforce development resources available in a local region. WorkForce WV consists of seven geographic regions, with each having at least one comprehensive career center, at minimum. In total, the seven regions hold 10 comprehensive centers, 10 satellite centers and 23 affiliate sites throughout the State.
Adult Education programs are established in all 55 counties in WV with some counties having multiple locations. There are approximately 154 class locations statewide. Programs are located in various sites such as Adult Learning Centers, Career Technical Centers, Community College Campuses, Libraries, Community-based Organizations, and Workforce Centers.
DRS is comprised of six geographic districts, with multiple branch offices within each district. In total, DRS has 28 branch offices, including offices at One-stop career centers and co-location (within the same building) with WorkForce WV at several sites. Additionally, DRS holds office space within some of the largest high schools in the State, to facilitate service provision to students with disabilities.
Services
The WDS provides a wide array of career and training services to promote quality employment outcomes to job seekers in West Virginia and assist WV employers with their labor needs. These services are provided not only at One-stop Career Centers and field offices, but also at homes, in schools, at places of business, and even online. WorkForce WV provides a number of services to the people of West Virginia, including Job Seeker Services, Veterans Services, Dislocated Workers Services, Employer Services, Unemployment Compensation, and Labor Market Information.
Adult Education services include Orientation, Assessment, On-Site Classes, Customized Training (conducted in cooperation with employers), Technology Training, and Navigator Services, designed to enhance student transition and retention.
DRS is fully committed to provide comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities, especially those with significant disabilities, who seek to obtain, retain, or maintain competitive, integrated employment. Because DRS provides services exclusively to individuals with disabilities, service provision is highly individualized. DRS services, including pre-employment transition services, cover a spectrum of individualized needs, including Medical, Educational, Employment, Career and Training, and other Support needs.
Business Relations
A key component of the success of the WDS is the success that the system has had in maintaining strong relationships with businesses and employers across the State.
Workforce WV is able to produce and provide extensive labor market information to its participants, and to the public in general, thanks to communication and exchange of information with employers regarding opportunities, expected growth, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities that these employers expect from potential employees.
DRS employs 12 Employment Specialists who provide statewide coverage in their task of maintaining business relations in the State of West Virginia. These relations entail not only placement of individuals with disabilities into positions, but also the acquisition of labor market information, complementing the information acquired by WorkForce WV. DRS and Workforce WV work together to provide the most comprehensive labor market information available.
West Virginia is taking a comprehensive approach to improving its workforce development and training efforts. These efforts are being driven at the highest level by the Workforce Planning Group, a cabinet—level group chaired by Commerce Secretary Thrasher. The Council is a policy—making entity that meets on a monthly basis to discuss workforce issues, outlines potential problems and solutions, and ensures inter—agency collaboration and integration whenever possible.
The group serves to align and integrate workforce assistance by supporting training programs provided by key departments such as: Commerce, Health & Human Resources, WorkForce West Virginia, K—12 Education, Higher Education. Another key objective of the group has been to restructure or improve the effectiveness of the state’s workforce training and support programs, so they meet the needs of the state’s employers —— and new employers. The State Workforce Development Board (SWDB) is structured to satisfy both federal and state requirements maintaining a majority of business representation and additional needs set forth by State legislation.
Continued emphasis on the improvement of service delivery through organizations such as the State Workforce Development Board and the Interagency Collaborative Team (ICT) will result in a more responsive and responsible system that will meet the needs of its customers. This will also promote increased economic development through the attraction, retention, and growth of businesses by providing properly trained workers who will equip businesses to compete in today’s economy.
The ICT includes policy making representatives of all State agencies involved in workforce development. Monthly meetings are conducted to discuss new initiatives, collaborations, and provide cross training information on respective partner programs. These regular meetings ensure strong coordination of policies relating to workforce programs and activities.