Workforce Information You Can Use!

The Workforce Information Council helps guide the development and improvement of the nationwide workforce and labor market information system. This system provides information on labor market trends and conditions, job outlook and wages, skill requirements of jobs, and a wide variety of other information that helps customers make decisions about their businesses, careers, training, and job search.

At this web site you can find information about the Council and its activities, about the workforce information system and about how to access workforce and labor market information for your local area, state, or the nation.

Information about the workforce, labor market, and careers in your local area, state, and the nation can be located by going to the workforce information portal.

Update from the Workforce Information Council (WIC) November 2011 -

Workforce Information Council Meets on November 8-9 in New Orleans
Secretary of Labor's Workforce Information System Plan
WIC Technology Forum Report
International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference
WIC LMI Orientation Webinars Conducted
Workforce Information Portal

Workforce Information Council Meets on November 8-9 in New Orleans

Workforce Information Council (WIC) member Raj Jindal of Louisiana will host the WIC in her home state for the Council's meeting in New Orleans on November 8-9, 2011. WIC Co-Chairs Tom Nardone/BLS and Dr. Greg Weeks/WA will lead the WIC agenda for the two day meeting.

Since the July 2011 Seattle meeting, there have been a couple of changes to the Workforce Information Council. Long time WIC Co-chair Jack Galvin is on a temporary assignment in the BLS Commissioner's office and will be replaced by Tom Nardone.

An expression of appreciation will be extended to WIC State members Alexandra Hall/CO of region 8 and William Niblack/MO region 7 for their service on the WIC the past few years and their active participation. These two LMI directors will rotate off and new 2012-2013 state members Dr. Jude Igbokwe/IA and Todd Younkin/MT will start their WIC term in January 2012.

Patricia Getz of the Bureau of Labor Statistics has retired, with no replacement named as of yet. She has made numerous contributions to the WIC and BLS programs over the past decade. Also Kimberly Vitelli of the Employment and Training Administration has joined as a WIC Federal Participant from the Office of Workforce Investment, Division of National Programs, Tools, and Technical Assistance.

Secretary of Labor's Workforce Information System Plan

This plan, released September 13, 2011, identifies the Secretary of Labor's priorities as of Fiscal Year 2011 for the Department of Labor's (DOL) support of the workforce information system, in response to the requirements of the Workforce Investment Act, Section 309. As described in the Wagner-Peyser Act, Section 15, the Secretary of Labor, through the BLS, acts with other Federal agencies and State employment statistics agency representatives elected by their peers. Collectively known as the Workforce Information Council, this group works together to plan, guide, and oversee the nationwide workforce information system.

The plan was developed in consultation with the States through discussions with the State representatives on the WIC throughout FY 2010 and early FY 2011. The State representatives provided feedback from all labor market information directors gathered at a May 2009 forum. Although the consultation was extensive, it does not imply that the States agree with all aspects of this plan.

The plan builds on the DOL's Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2011-2016. Specifically, it includes activities that support Strategic Goal 1: Prepare workers for good jobs at fair compensation, and Strategic Goal 5: Produce timely and accurate data on the economic conditions of workers and their families.

The plan presents the Secretary's priorities as of Fiscal Year 2011 (section II), progress attained in the last two years (section III), and an overview of DOL funding for the workforce information system (section IV).

This plan identifies priorities and action steps for improving the workforce information system in four areas: (A) providing direction for the improvement of BLS programs; (B) providing direction for the improvement of other components of the workforce information system; (C) identifying and filling gaps in the workforce information system; and (D) consulting with and educating stakeholders.

The Secretary's report describes the workforce information system as providing critical data and analysis on employment, unemployment, wages, industries and occupations, and other topics to support the planning, delivery, and evaluation of workforce training programs, career exploration and job search assistance, Foreign Labor Certification, and other programs of the Department of Labor (DOL). Workforce information is also critical to economic development, education program planning and evaluation, career guidance, individual job search and employee hiring decisions, labor-management negotiations, business decision-making, allocation of funding at all levels of government, and other activities carried out by the DOL and its State and local partners.

The workforce information system is created through the activities of two DOL agencies - the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) - our State workforce agency partners, and other federal agencies, especially the Census Bureau and the Department of Education (ED).

The Secretary of Labor's Workforce Information Plan can be accessed by clicking here.

WIC Technology Forum Releases Report on St. Louis May 2011 Meeting

This report summarizes the content and purpose of the LMI Technology Forum, held in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 24-25, 2011. The Forum was planned to be one component of a broader effort to review and build knowledge, particularly among state LMI offices, of the technology that is available today to deliver labor market information and to create a guide to current state-of-the-art practices in Web-based information dissemination that could be used as a reference for the development and enhancement of state LMI websites.

The LMI Technology Forum and the broader study effort are being carried out under the sponsorship of the Workforce Information Council (WIC). To pursue these interests, the WIC initially established a Technology Study Group in 2009 that released a report that "characterized the state of technology applications across the LMI system, identified technology gaps and reviewed potential technologies for system advancement." In late 2010, the WIC reconstituted the Technology Study Group "for the specific mission of identifying a range of strategic quality recommendations that would promote LMI system enhancement through technology." The charter for the current Study Group further states that "The role of the group is to build a base of knowledge from which to propose a set of core principles for the delivery of LMI as it relates to technology and a range of technology recommendations..."

The first day's presentations were divided into two parts, the first focusing on the "State-of-the-Art in LMI Delivery - What is Being Done Now,?" and the second addressing the "State-of-the-Art in Information Delivery - What is Possible?"

During the morning of the second day, Forum attendees were given the opportunity to join breakout groups to discuss areas of interest involving the topics from the first day's presentations. The goal of these working group sessions was to begin to identify steps that could be taken to accomplish desired enhancements in state LMI delivery and establish dialogues that would serve to move the states towards those desired results. Attendees self-divided fairly evenly into each of the groups formed.

Four breakout topic areas were identified:

1. Best Practices - for LMI websites, i.e., content, navigation, presentation. What are they?
2. Changing Technology - What should states do to adapt to new technologies, i.e., mobile devices, social media, to reach LMI customers.
3. Data Visualization - What should states use? What are its strengths, weaknesses, advantages, disadvantages?
4. Collaboration - How can states collaborate to improve LMI delivery systems? What are the commonalities; i.e., Could all states use Google Analytics for Web metrics?

In their discussions, the working groups were asked to keep in mind state human resource requirements for the work envisioned, the quality of data being used, and the capabilities of the various customer groups that LMI offices are required to serve.

Four areas of further recommended activities for state LMI offices were highlighted --

1. --Best Practices - for LMI websites, i.e., content, navigation, presentation. What are they?
• Compile a list of good features that could be used as a guide for state LMI website development.
• Enable broader sharing of website development technology among states through creation of the "sandbox" proposed by the Analyst Resource Center. The ARC could be used as a place to share not only database tools, but also web tools, such as application code for specific website functionality.
• Enable broader sharing of states' website development efforts, such as the results of focus groups, surveys, usability studies and website analyses. Creation of a library of these resources housed by the ARC or WIC would promote collaboration among states.
• Consider Web Services for providing data in multiple formats.
2. --Changing Technology - What should states do to adapt to new technologies, i.e., mobile devices, social media, to reach LMI customers.
• States should review their websites at least once a year and, until prepared for a more extensive website development or enhancement project, should take small steps to keep pace with technology to avoid falling too far behind.
• Establish a standard state website metrics report using Google Analytics.
• Poll the states asking if they have a social media policy. If yes, ask the following questions and make the findings available to all the states: What is their social media presence (blog, Facebook, Twitter); and, What are their human resource requirements for maintaining it?
• Mobile devices:
• States need to keep up with the technology providing for dynamic mapping/GIS on their websites. Given the potential cost, options for providing dynamic mapping/GIS should be explored.
3. --Data Visualization - What should states use? What are its strengths, weaknesses, advantages, disadvantages?
• Identify and create a list of the growing number of products available for enabling new data visualizations so that states can review and test them.
• Share innovative visualizations among states through the ARC sandbox.
• Create webinars for instruction/training for creating effective data visualizations.
• Document the effect of innovative data visualizations (e.g., LMI user response; new audiences reached; new resources obtained).
4. --Collaboration - How can states collaborate to improve LMI delivery systems? What are the commonalities?

Establish a central hub for resource sharing and communication, and provide for regular management of this hub.

The complete WIC LMI Technology Forum report can be obtained by clicking here.

International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Meeting in Charlotte, NC

The Workforce Information Council had an exhibit at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) 2011 Annual Conference on September 18-21 in Charlotte, NC. The theme of their annual meeting was "Connect Locally, Succeed Globally." Around 1,600 economic development professionals from across the U.S. and from several foreign countries attended.

The IEDC celebrated 85 years of their existence which dates back to 1926. Workshops were divided up into four tracks - Understanding current forces shaping economic development; building the foundations for economic growth; catching the next wave of innovation; and, expanding connections and relationships/professional development.

Several speakers provided keynotes around various themes, including - Unique Partnerships with Economic Development; State of the Economy; Changing Face of Retail and Its Impact on Your Community; and, Strong Higher Education Partnerships for Workforce Development.

The WIC display highlighted State LMI publications and services, showcasing many state publications. A list of Workforce Information directors was available and the links to the various state LMI shops and DOL BLS/ETA web sites highlighted.

WIC LMI Orientation Webinars Conducted

The WIC sponsored three LMI Orientation webinars geared toward new LMI directors and staff. The sessions were facilitated by Ted Gladden of Information Consulting Services, Inc. (former LMI director on SC). Each webinar was two hours long and focused on key LMI topics. Each participant (there were over 20 individuals from 15 states who joined one of the three sessions) received a set of the PowerPoint slides each presenter used. The first session was held Thursday, September 22 and centered on giving an overview and history of the LMI program.

The second webinar, held October 6, focused on LMI partnerships and involved information on DOL BLS & ETA, Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), Census Local Employment Dynamics (LED), National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) and the WIC.

The final web session was held on October 27 and centered on presentations about technology (Steve Hine/MN), customer service (Rebecca Rust/FL), and organizational structure/funding (Steve Saxton/CA). At the end of their presentations, these three seasoned LMI directors answered a variety of questions from their new colleagues.

The WIC is working to provide these three 2 hour sessions recorded over the GoToMeeting platform via the WIC web site and/or by sharing the LMI Orientation webinar PowerPoints.