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2 Year Modification

Plan: Oklahoma PYs 2022-2023 (Mod)
Unified Plan U

Section: WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Narrative: III. a. 2. I.

Published
Located in:
  • III. Operational Planning Elements

    The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above.  Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs.  This section must include—

    • a. State Strategy Implementation

      The Unified or Combined State Plan must include–

      • 2. Implementation of State Strategy

        Describe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—

III. a. 2. I. Coordinating with Economic Development Strategies

Describe how the activities identified in (A) will be coordinated with economic development entities, strategies, and activities in the State.

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2020-2023

Current Narrative:

Oklahoma recognizes that workforce development must be linked to economic development. That is the reason Governor Kevin Stitt chose to make the Oklahoma Department of Commerce the Title I administrative entity effective December 31, 2019. Additionally, the link between workforce and economic development are made in several ways and at several levels.

Partnerships with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce partners to provide data support and economic development expertise. The Department of Commerce helps promote the resources and services available through WIOA Core Partner agencies. They also employ Rural Development Specialists (RDSs) who live and work in their assigned areas across the state. The RDSs call on companies, provide resource referrals as needed, and build relationships with companies. When companies experience difficulties, they often turn to the RDSs, who bring in a variety of resources to help solve problems. The Commerce Research Team provides research services for companies as needed. Proactive communications and call trips to corporate headquarters of Oklahoma companies, often by the Governor, help Oklahoma know of any issues corporate offices see at the local level. Issues can then be addressed effectively.

Labor Market Data

The workforce division and research division of Oklahoma department of Commerce both provide data used by the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development in key decision making. The Commerce research team provides more economic development data while the workforce division provides more workforce development data. Both economic and workforce development research overlap and contribute to the strategic efforts of the state workforce system.

Statewide Career Exposure Week

The weeklong event connects local students with area businesses to give future talent the opportunity to explore the career possibilities in Oklahoma. Career Exposure Week events allow local businesses and employers to showcase critical careers in demand industries, to inspire and recruit new talent, and give all levels of the talent pipeline a front row seat to experience the wide array of careers available within the State. Sponsored events range from hosting on-site job shadow experiences, industry tours, classroom presentations or other activities targeted to students in K-12 and beyond. Oklahoma Career Exposure Week was created to:

  • Empower Oklahoma businesses and industries in the state’s ecosystems and regions to engage with educators, students, parents, and others about career opportunities.
  • Change misconceptions of Oklahoma’s demand and critical occupations.
  • Draw attention to the roles businesses and industries play in communities across the state.
  • Underscore the economic and social significance of demand and critical occupations and businesses and industry

Economic development organizations are among the partners who make this annual event successful, including organizations like the Tulsa Chamber and the Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation. Oklahoma continues to work with partners to expand Career Exposure Week as a way to prepare youth and individuals with barriers to employment for the workforce.

Governor’s Summit on Economic Development and Workforce

In 2019, Governor Stitt hosted the Governor’s Summit on Economic Development and Workforce. The event brought together business, economic development and workforce leaders to focus on the alignment of state priorities.  

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic this event has not been held since. However, other activities have been held to connect Oklahoma’s economic development community with workforce. In November 2021, the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development held a board training and retreat event in Oklahoma City. The event was designed to connect council members with timely workforce information to better craft policy for the state of Oklahoma.

COVID-19 Pandemic

During the Covid-19 pandemic we have worked closely with our local workforce boards. We believe our six boards have been best suited to address and identify needs at a local level. Our workforce boards have partnered with community-based groups in identifying a variety of needs created by this pandemic. Some of those needs go far beyond the scope of the existing workforce system and include supportive services such as childcare, rental assistance, homelessness, food insecurity, clothing among other needs.

While Oklahoma is now seeing record low unemployment, we know many of these needs have not gone away. Employers are struggling to fill key occupations, while the pandemic has caused disruptions to supply chains and other key parts of the economy.

Oklahoma is focused on maximizing its labor-force participation rate to get as many Oklahomans who want to participate in the labor-force working as possible. While the pandemic has caused serious disruptions, Oklahoma remains undeterred in leveraging its workforce system to maximize the number of people who can participate and ensure equitable access across the state for all Oklahomans.

As more Oklahomans can find work, we are optimistic some of the economic problems exacerbated by the pandemic will improve in those communities that have been most affected. Our partnerships through economic development are designed to help job-seekers find employment in high wage in-demand positions.