Narrative: a. 2. B.

Governor’s Set Aside

New Jersey intends to utilize the statewide set aside funding to support special projects and initiatives aligned to the strategic intent Jobs NJ, released in January 2020. In particular, these funds will be targeted toward efforts such as, but not limited to:

• Expansion of Contextualized Learning Programs: In order to ensure that all New Jerseyans have the opportunity to success in today’s economy, New Jersey intends to expand contextualize learning programs serving adult basic education and English-language learners.
• Increasing Work-Based Learning Opportunities: Internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training all are proven strategies in support of long-term career success.  Since January 2018, New Jersey has increased the number of registered apprenticeship programs by over 50 percent and intend to build on this success to expand offerings into emerging and non-traditional sectors, as well as round out the portfolio of work-based learning opportunities by creating more internships and on-the-job training programs in those industries.  Further, NJDOL anticipates expanding its customized job training investments for upskilling frontline workers.
• Launching Next Generation Industry Partnerships: While New Jersey has long supported sector-based partnerships, this work has been reimagined for 2020.   Led by NJDOL, Governor’s set-aside funds will support the launch and implementation of new Industry Partnerships beginning this year, starting with manufacturing.
• Supporting New Jersey Talent Solutions: NJDOL, in collaboration with the State’s Economic Development Authority and other key partners, is exploring a more dynamic approach for serving businesses or industries anticipating growth or major change. As currently envisioned, there would be a new cross-agency team that would be activated to develop a comprehensive action plan that would engage all the State’s talent development vehicles to both assist the business or industry, address barriers to business growth, and ensure New Jersey residents have access to the best employment opportunities.

Additionally, the State continues to invest in a range of technologies to improve case management tools, expand access to virtual service delivery for customers, and create more real-time workforce data tools for all system stakeholders and the public.  New Jersey intends to utilize set-aside funding to support these types of efforts as funds are needed and available.

Rapid Response Funds

NJDOL’s Rapid Response Team provides on-site assistance to employers who either request such services, through the Federal WARN Act, or are mandated to use these services through the New Jersey WARN Act. The Rapid Response Team provides appropriate information, referrals and counseling to workers who are subject to plant closings or mass layoffs.

The Rapid Response Team, when applicable, will have an initial meeting with employers who are planning a layoff event. Response Team Specialists will meet with management and/or union personnel (if appropriate) to develop a plan to serve the company’s workforce. This initial meeting identifies the services to be offered and the service delivery dates. The Rapid Response Team will present information to the affected workforce that explains Unemployment Insurance, Re-employment Services, Training Assistance, and additional services and resources available.

Unemployment Insurance:

• Explanation of benefit calculations and eligibility requirements
• Assistance in how to file an online or telephone claim
• Review information on dependency benefits, partial claims, direct deposit and taxes.
• Explain how payments would or would not affect claim including severance, PTO, 401k, pension.

Re-Employment Services:

• One-Stop Career Center Registration
• Labor Market Information
• Referrals to available jobs
• Introduction to CareerConnections.nj.gov
• Referral to Jersey Job Clubs
• Résumé Review and Development

Training Assistance:

• Introduction to state and federal retraining programs including assistance available through New Jersey Community Colleges, WIOA/WDP grant programs and On-the-Job Training

Additional Customized Services:

• Job Search Workshops
• Résumé Workshops
• Help with job solicitation campaigns
• Targeted Job Fair assistance
• Registration Forms Completion
• Help in deciphering federal/state plant closing requirements

NJDOL’s goal is to respond to layoff events in a timely manner and relay actionable information to the affected workers. NJDOL also focuses on layoff aversion and how assistance can be provided to companies contemplating a layoff, through the Layoff Aversion Program. Layoff aversion is about keeping companies in business by providing strategic alternatives to keep workers in their present jobs or quickly move them into comparable new jobs.

Successful layoff aversion strategies employed by the Rapid Response Team have focused on using technology tools to seamlessly transition workers from downsizing companies to growing companies. Workers from downsizing companies are entered into the One-Stop case management system with an identified tying them to the layoff event. This creates a ready pool of qualified and dependable candidates for hiring companies to tap.

State funds supplement Rapid Response funds in New Jersey’s layoff aversion efforts. For example, UPSKILL is a competitive grant program that reimburses employers for costs associated with training frontline employees. As noted in the previous section, it is anticipated that more state funds will be invested in to assist companies currently at a competitive workforce disadvantage due to changing technology, inefficient operations, and/or poorly trained staff.

Several Workforce Development Board areas partner on a regular basis with SCORE and Small Business Development Centers to offer training to business owners and entrepreneurs. Rapid Response Team members direct appropriate business owners to these resources, and also, when appropriate, advised downsized workers of the opportunity to use their industry expertise or proprietary knowledge to transition from employee to consulting or entrepreneurship.

The Rapid Response Team partners with NJDOL Business Services Representatives (BSRs) who develop customized solution strategies using private and public sector resources. The following are examples of the private and public sector organizations the BSRs work with to implement layoff aversion strategies:

• Chambers of Commerce
• Industry Trade Associations
• NJ Business & Industry Association
• NJ County College Consortium
• Small Business Development Centers
• State and Local Economic Development Agencies
• Trade Unions

NJDOL coordinates Rapid Response efforts and services to trade-affected businesses.  Rapid Response provides services to workers for whom a Trade Act petition has been filed. The Trade program does not provide a Trade orientation at the time of the petition filing, but if the company later becomes Trade certified, a Trade orientation is provided to the workers.  Once a company has been certified and a Trade orientation is scheduled, there may be additional dislocated workers who have not yet received Rapid Response services. In this case, the Trade Act Unit will request that a Rapid Response Business Representative attend the Trade orientation, so that a simultaneous Rapid Response and Trade Act event can be held for the workers.

The Rapid Response team leverages various partnerships to assist with further explanation or direction for the affected workforce. It is anticipated the intelligence gathered from the State’s emerging Industry Partnerships will further inform and enhance these efforts.  It is further expected that when New Jersey Talent Solutions, described in the previous section, is implemented, it will be coordinated with the existing Rapid Response and Trade Adjustment and may result in appropriate enhancements to the services described above.