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.
News!
Workforce Information Council Meets on March 28-29 in Washington, DC
The Workforce Information Council (WIC) federal members in Washington, DC will host the WIC for the Council's meeting on March 28-29, 2012. WIC Co-Chairs Thomas Nardone/BLS and Steve Saxton/CA will lead the WIC agenda for the two day meeting. Mr. Nardone replaces former WIC federal co-Chair John M. Galvin, who is now the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Steve Saxton of California took the place as State Co-Chair of Dr. Greg Weeks of Washington state, when Dr. Weeks announced he is departing his job in WA.
Since the November 2011 New Orleans meeting, there have been a couple of other changes to the Workforce Information Council. New 2012-2013 state members Dr. Jude Igbokwe/IA and Todd Younkin/MT started their WIC terms in January 2012 and will attend their first meeting as members.
A variety of topics are on the agenda including a discussion of the "Secretary of Labor's Workforce Information System Plan," released September 13, 2011. The council will identify areas of the plan which needs updating to support the workforce information system. The WIC will review these priorities in response to the requirements of the Workforce Investment Act, Section 309. This review highlights the WIC's role as the Council works together to plan, guide, and oversee the nationwide workforce information system.
Other topics on the agenda for the late March meeting include: Ideas for the Workforce Information System for FY2014 & Beyond; Discussion of the Policy Council Work for the Four BLS Programs (CES, LAUS/MLS; OES, & QCEW); WIC Study Group Reports from the Customer Consultation and Technology Chairs; May 2012 BLS National LMI Conference Plans; and reports from key system partners (BLS, ETA, NASWA, C2ER, and Census/LED). WIC "Meeting Customer Needs" Outcomes Report
WIC "Meeting Customer Needs" Outcomes Report
The WIC has released Labor Market Information Meeting Customer Needs, Workforce Information Council State Representatives Outcomes Measurement Project Volume III. This compendium contains examples of state workforce information projects/products to meet private sector needs, produce green job data, help aid economic recovery, develop policy, answer program questions, and/or shape future state/local initiatives.
This is the Workforce Information Council State Representatives' third edition of state examples of how Labor Market Information (LMI) is used to help develop policy, answer program questions, and/or shape future state/local initiatives. State workforce information directors across the country submitted in 85 responses from 21 states.
These digests are good testimony of how independent and objective data can be used to help shape policy. Data and surveys collected in a vacuum are meaningless unless the results can be studied and evaluated into meaningful relevance to the economy, industry base/employers, population, and/or labor market trends. Thanks to the state LMI directors for sharing their state products/projects.
The information is sorted by topic area (some submittals may be listed in more than one area). There is also a state by state directory of submittals. This topic of Meeting Customer Needs is especially important given the work of the Workforce Information Council's Customer Consultation Study Group. They have several projects in the works and this outreach will contribute to their efforts.
For more information, either call 843/452-4121 or email wicedtoyou@yahoo.com. You can also request reports directly from the state contacts listed in the back for submittals which do not contain a link to an electronic version.
The information in this follow-up report can be found by clicking here.
NAWB National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) Conducts Forum 2012 in Washington, DC
The Workforce Information Council had an exhibit at the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) Forum 2012 held March 10-13 in Washington, DC. The theme of their annual meeting was "Dialogue for Workforce Excellence." Around 1,500 workforce development professionals from across the U.S. and from several foreign countries attended.
Most of the attendees were members of state, regional, and local workforce boards from around the country. Workshops and issue forums were offered in many areas dealing with a variety of workforce issues - customer service; technology; program management; career development; LMI; diversity; communication; collaboration/problem solving; business & employer knowledge; and workforce system structure.
Keynote speakers provided discussion around various themes, including - Jonas Prising, President of the Americas, Manpower Group on workforce excellence; Rick Stephens, Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Administration, The Boeing Company on education to work applications; Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor, 2012 workforce initiatives; and various legislative speakers on Congressional workforce action in the coming year, including the Honorable Senator Richard Blumenthal, CT.
The WIC display highlighted State LMI publications and services, showcasing many state products/projects contained in the February 2012 "LMI Meeting Customer Needs" document. A list of Workforce Information directors was available and the links to the various state LMI shops and DOL BLS/ETA web sites highlighted.
BLS Customer Service Guide
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has issued a "BLS Customer Service Guide" to make it easier for folks to request information or data. The Guide contains: 1) Descriptions of the information and data BLS produces, as well as the publications in which they appear; 2) Instructions needed to use various electronic means (Internet, email, etc.) for information or data access; and, 3) Names and telephone numbers of people to contact for additional information.
They have a wonderful 2 page description of how to navigate the BLS web site to find the data/information you need form their home, www.bls.gov. You can access the Guide online by clicking, http://www.bls.gov/bls/customer_service_guide_2011.pdf. If you have comments about the Guide or want additional hard copies, call 202/691-5200 or write to - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Information and Marketing Services, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Room 2850, Washington, DC 20212 or email - blsdata_staff@bls.gov.
Workforce Information Portal
The Workforce Information Portal is an on-line resource, providing customers with a one-stop access point to workforce information sources on the web. The portal provides quick access to state on-line workforce information and career information sites, as well as national resources. This one-stop access point is especially important to customers who want information from more than one state, or are not sure where to go to get information for their state or locality.
The portal gives the customer different avenues to web resources: by type of customer (individuals, businesses, and researchers), by geography, or by agency. The links also include web sites for kids. The site is at www.workforceinformation.org.