WEDNet: State Overview/Plan

Are Employers Ready for Job Ready in Pennsylvania?

Yet the focus of the programs remains the same, the intensive support of both workforce and education systems in our Commonwealth to ensure that Pennsylvanians have the skills necessary to compete in a global economy. This investment in Pennsylvania's workforce, better known as Governor Rendell's Job Ready Pennsylvania, is a workforce development system that is responsive to both the employer and their training needs.

Job Ready PA aligns local workforce investments with the high priority industry clusters and occupations and connects education and training dollars to employers needs. With unemployment rates remaining consistently low, employers claim they struggle with finding qualified employees that are needed to stay competitive and keep our economy growing. In response, Job Ready Pennsylvania encompasses such initiatives as:

Industry Partnerships are bringing employers in related industry sectors together to identify and close skill gaps that are impacting their business. As of May 2007, 90 active industry partnerships have been created serving 5,700 companies representing 20 industry sectors. Once the training needs are identified, employers can access training funds through the Industry Partnership Training grant, which already has served 24,000 employees.

WEDnet Guaranteed Free Training and Customized Job Training programs are available for employers to use for training to equip their existing workforce with the skills necessary to stay competitive. The GFT program has been focused on aligning the investments more effectively with Governor Rendell's broader Job Ready PA strategy and other workforce initiatives in the Commonwealth. Partner institutions have been networking closely with their Workforce Investment Boards to prioritize efforts regionally, as well as with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to assist companies in easier accessibility, information and coordination of resources.

Increasing opportunities for Pennsylvanians through other key initiatives focusing on literacy, dual enrollment, youth initiatives and nursing programs are also part of the Governor's strategy to improve the state's economy.

You may be asking yourself, how does my company become involved? Where can I connect with training funds? There are several ways to connect your business with this initiative, through your local Workforce Investment Board, local community college as training provider or a workforce and economic development partner such as the Manufacturer's Resource Center . My recommendation……partner early, partner often with an organization, like NCC, to assist in the sometimes intricate navigation necessary to maximize the benefits for your organization. Our Business Training Resources Department specializes in assisting employers by providing up to date information and education about the integrated efforts and resources available in the Commonwealth while remaining responsive to our clients through quality training and service.

If you want to learn more about these collaborative initiatives and how your business may benefit, please contact Michele Pappalardo at 610-861-4588 or mpappalardo@northampton.edu .

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