tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18386493779165254812023-11-15T11:09:32.060-08:00KRA CorporationA National Leader In Workforce DevelopmentAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-80460507412136675642014-02-27T02:39:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.185-08:00Ready to Work Program Aims at Getting Long-term Unemployed into Skilled
PositionsOne of the critical questions posed by the current administration is: “How do we equip our workers with the skills needed to do the jobs of the 21<sup>st</sup> Century?” In an attempt to answer this question, while simultaneously addressing long-term unemployment, the Department of Labor (DOL) has made $150 million in competitive grants available to the <a href="http://www.doleta.gov/readytowork/">Ready to Work Partnership</a>.<br/><br/>Financed through fees paid to the H1-B nonimmigrant visa program, amounts of between $3million and $10 million are expected to be awarded to applicants (expected to range from 20 to 30) whose high-performing partnerships:<br/><ul><br/> <li>focus on long-term unemployed worker re-employment</li><br/> <li>incorporate work-based training—On-the-Job Training, paid work experience, paid internships, and registered apprenticeships</li><br/> <li>involve strong employer engagement (with program design support) and who commit to consider hiring qualified program participants</li><br/></ul><br/>Employer engagement and private sector involvement is a vital component of skill preparedness in the workplace. It is something that DOL Secretary Perez spoke to in his remarks <a href="http://hr.blr.com/HR-news/Staffing-Training/Employee-Manager-Training/DOL-Sec-Perez-addresses-US-mayors-about-industr">to the U.S. Conference of Mayors</a> and something that is drawing increasing focus from the DOL and the current administration, especially in high-demand industries.<br/><br/>It is these “innovative partnerships between employers, nonprofit organizations and America's public workforce system” that the Ready to Work Partnership grant is looking to award, support and scale. One of the existing caveats being that any grant applicant have three employers or a regional industry association involved in the project.<br/><br/>Ultimately, the grants are geared toward helping long-term unemployed workers achieve “earn while you learn” pathways to re-employment opportunities into middle- and high-skill jobs, while at the same time providing industries a pipeline of workers whose are skills tailored to fit needs.<br/><br/>Providing workers the requisite skills to be successful and competitive while allowing them to earn a living at the same time is a solid foundation for boosting productivity and morale while reducing turnover, making for an overall more profitable and streamlined endeavor.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> was also pleased to see that, similar to the <a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/platform-to-employment-program-gets-ct-state-funding/">Platform to Employment Program</a> that the firm will be implementing in the Northcentral Region of Connecticut, part of the requirements for consideration calls for the incorporation of strategies that provide additional resources like assessments, job-placement assistance, training, mentoring, and other supportive services (such as financial counseling and behavioral health counseling).<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> endorses those initiatives specifically designed to help address the skills imbalance while providing long-term unemployed workers the means to be successfully integrated back into the workforce. We have<b> </b>spent more than 3 decades staying on the cutting edge of workforce development practices and programs so that we remain fully equipped to prepare job seekers for tomorrow’s global economy while supplying employers with a trained and reliable workforce.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> remains committed to this mission and looks forward to this grant program successfully boosting the economy while investing in its most valuable resource—the U.S. worker.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-53819465219594477362014-02-26T02:59:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.150-08:00Minimum Wage Hike Set to Boost Federal Contract Workers Income<span style="color: #000000;">Recently, the minimum wage for Federal contractors was raised to $10.10/hour by an Executive Order issued by President Obama. The wage increase, slated to take effect on January 1, 2015, is expected to affect hundreds of thousands of contract workers currently receiving minimum wage. </span><br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;"><b>KRA Corporation </b>salutes the President’s commitment to his word in trying to encourage equity-in-pay in the U.S. workforce. We hope that this acts as a spur to the Federal minimum wage debate as well as impacting workforce development in a positive way.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;">The minimum wage will then be adjusted annually by the Secretary of Labor based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;">In his remarks regarding the wage increase, Department of Labor Secretary Tom Perez, said, “The president believes the federal government should lead by example as a model employer, joining so many private businesses that have recognized that paying a fair wage is both the right thing and the smart thing to do.”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;">The move has drawn criticism from some quarters. The belief is that this will stymie hiring practices instead of promoting them, and that the actual number of people the move will benefit is far less than reported as it only affects new contracts.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;">However, supporters point to studies that have shown that raising low wages has a positive impact on morale, reduces employee turnover and absenteeism (thereby reducing costs) while boosting overall productivity. </span><br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;">Just how constitutional the Executive Order is has come under scrutiny from the Supreme Court. Bypassing Congress, the court determined that the President’s “power is at its lowest ebb, for then he can rely only upon his own constitutional powers minus any constitutional powers of Congress over the matter.” It is not something, however, that will unlikely lead to the President rescinding the order.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;">This Executive Order represents a definitive statement of intent that his administration is committed to improving the overall situation of the U.S. workforce at a building block level and is willing to lead by example.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;">As an organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and strengthening our communities through our innovative workforce development programs, <b>KRA Corporation</b> applauds this move which raises the standard of living for Federal contract workers while offering incentive to our current job seekers.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;"><b>KRA Corporation</b> is heartened to see the President making good on promises he made during his State of the Union address and we hope that this continues to be a “year of action” in his initiatives for the U.S. workforce.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-2550369631707814682014-02-12T12:30:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.124-08:00Veterans Get Added Boost from DOL, Construction Industry<b>KRA Corporation </b>has long maintained that veterans are one of the most important groups contributing to the U.S. workforce. With knowledge, skills, and abilities developed both before and during their service to our country, most possess the necessary assets to succeed in the workplace. It is why a <a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/our-veterans-opportunities-to-serve-beyond-the-military/">recent <b>KRA<br/>Corporation </b>post</a> highlighting the reported number of unemployed, homeless, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients among our veterans was so alarming.<br/><br/>It is also why the recent announcements regarding veteran employment and reintegration services from the construction industry and the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program respectively draws the highest praise from our organization.<br/><br/>At a recent symposium hosted by the Department of Labor (DOL) and <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces">Joining Forces</a>, it was made public that a coalition of more than 100 construction companies have committed to hiring more than 100,000 veterans over the next 5 years.<br/><br/>The construction industry is expected to add 1.5 million jobs by 2022, making it one of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ fastest-growing industries, and ideal to lead the veteran employment charge.<br/><br/>The Secretary of Labor, Thomas Perez, reiterated the DOL’s commitment to veteran employment saying, <i>“The Department of Labor will do whatever it takes to help our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs" </i>adding,<i> “All men and women who have sacrificed for our country in our armed services deserve opportunities for good jobs worthy of their character and their achievements."</i><br/><br/>First Lady, Michelle Obama, who co-launched Joining Forces, praised this move in <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303496804579368682913926034?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303496804579368682913926034.html">a post</a> saying the pledge is<i> “not just because it's the patriotic thing to do, and not just because they want to repay our veterans for their service to our country, but because they know that it's the smart thing to do for their business."</i><br/><br/>In addition, the DOL has announced grants totaling $900,000, which will fund services provided by the Veterans' Employment and Training Service to “help local partners provide essential services to those who have served in America's armed forces that will ease their transition to civilian life.”<br/><br/>The two grants of $450,000 each have been awarded to <a href="http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/leave-dol.asp?exiturl=http://bit.ly/1jST8jt&exitTitle=www.ahpnet.com">Advocates for Human Potential Inc.</a> and the <a href="http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/leave-dol.asp?exiturl=http://bit.ly/1cD90CR&exitTitle=www.nchv.org">National Coalition for Homeless Veterans</a>, and will augment the delivery systems for existing HVRP grant services including those for homeless veterans with families and female veterans.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> believes that---along with youth-employment programming and relief for the long-term unemployed, which many times includes veterans, our ex-armed services personnel are among the most important target populations in need of assistance to get their lives back on track. Therefore, we are heartened to see that the DOL’s commitment to improving the plight of U.S. veterans, who have served our country so valiantly, remains consistent.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> commends the efforts of all agencies and organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of our veterans. We remain committed to strengthening the communities in which we live by preparing our veterans and all job seekers for today’s global economy.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-30864723342575100892014-02-06T07:29:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.134-08:00Platform to Employment Program Gets CT State Funding<b>KRA Corporation </b>was pleased to learn last week that the Platform to Employment (P2E) Program received a boost with Connecticut (CT) Governor Dannel Malloy proposing to dedicate $3.6 million to create a statewide P2E initiative. This action represents the first full-state commitment to the Program, as well as the first public dedicated dollars.<br/><br/>We were especially pleased to learn this week that <b>KRA </b>will be implementing the P2E Program in CT’s Northcentral Region through CTWorks, funded by Capital Workforce Partners, one of the State’s five Workforce Investment Boards (WIB). Based in Hartford, this 37-town, multi-site program includes a One-Stop Career Center operation---a partner-program in the American Job Center system---for WIA-eligible Adult/Dislocated Workers, as well as a TANF-funded Jobs First Employment Services Program.<br/><br/>The CT P2E partnership, including the State’s five WIBS, with guidance from the CT Department of Labor, would seek to utilize elements of the successful program to get some 500 long-term unemployed (LTU) residents back into full-time employment.<br/><br/>Targeting those LTU jobseekers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits, P2E provides a 5-week intensive job-preparation program, access to behavioral health services, financial coaching, and then an 8-week subsidized employment internship. The original P2E pilot program, tested in CT’s Southwestern Region, under the auspices of The Workplace, the WIB for the Region, demonstrated that 8 out of 10 subsidized internships placements resulted in full-time jobs!<br/><br/>More than simply job training, the wraparound approach offered by P2E gives those who have been out of the workforce for an extended period of time a more comprehensive chance at adapting to the rigors of the job-seeking environment—one that transcends simple job preparedness, providing them with tools, the foot in the door, and renewed confidence to be successful in and out of the workplace.<br/><br/>Aimed at Veterans 30 years of age or younger and individuals 50 years of age or older, the P2E initiative was funded by the Wal-Mart Foundation, Citi Community Development, and the AARP Foundation through The Workforce. The success of the first pilot, demonstrating an impressive 80% unsubsidized job-placement rate, prompted the funding of 10 additional P2E pilots across the country, one of which was implemented by <b>KRA Corporation</b> under the auspices of the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP).<br/><br/>As the operator of the San Diego Metro Region America’s Job Centers of California program, for the SDWP, the P2E pilot implemented by KRA experienced an unsubsidized job-placement rate similar to that of the original CT pilot.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> is proud to have been a part of this ground-breaking initiative to support our LTU jobseekers, and was pleased to have reported several customer <a href="http://www.kra.com/company-news/krasan-diego-p2e-success-story-2/">success stories</a>. Now, we are eager to implement the P2E Program in Northcentral CT, assisting a selected number of those 500 LTU jobseekers in getting their careers and lives back on track.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-49944921627130325742014-01-30T08:42:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.147-08:00Workforce Dropout Rate a Source of ConcernLawmakers continue to be gridlocked over the future of long-term benefits and the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, the need for which underscores how dire the labor market currently is.<br/><br/>Another indicator of that fact is the continued increase in the number of “workforce dropouts”…unemployed workers who simply cease the job search…a figure that has been reported at 550,000 in the last year.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> explored the Workforce Participation Rate in a <a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/a-look-at-the-size-and-state-of-the-current-u-s-workforce/">previous post</a>, noting the increase in workforce dropouts, as well as the impact on themselves and the workforce itself.<br/><br/>The WPR, a metric that looks at those working and job seeking, is currently at a 36-year low. This fact is a source of concern for some economists who believe this figure is a more accurate indicator, than the unemployment rate, of long-term economic health. It also means a smaller portion of the populace will be fueling the economy.<br/><br/>A <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB20001424127887323916304578404682616834330"><i>Wall Street Journal</i></a> posting from last April highlighted the alarming numbers of workers who simply gave up looking for employment, stressing that it was a source of concern as returning to the workforce for many of those that have stopped searching will be increasingly difficult the longer they stay unemployed, and those that do return could do so at a lesser wage structure.<br/><br/>More disheartening about the shrinkage in the size of the US Labor force is that it seems young workers are deciding to drop out in increasing numbers.<br/><br/>The same Wall Street Journal article claims that nearly half of the dropouts in the March rate were under the age of 25. These missed career and development opportunities could have a direct impact on earning potential later.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> is a firm believer that the youth (16-24) we serve are an essential factor in strengthening the workforce and helping the economy, while also strengthening communities. It is why we are so committed to our <a href="http://www.kra.com/services/wia-youth/">WIA Youth Services</a> to aid them in becoming part of the workforce.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> has devoted more than 3 decades to diminishing the many effects of unemployment through our workforce development <a href="http://www.kra.com/services/">services</a>, and will strive to reach out to those dubbed workforce dropouts. By providing these disenchanted workers with the knowledge and skills to re-energize them in renewing their desire to rejoin the workforce they, their local communities and the overall economy will benefit.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-7955289786302658612014-01-22T06:12:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.182-08:00Unemployment Benefits Extension Stalls in the Senate<b><i>KRA Corporation</i></b><i> looks at the most recent development in the Senate regarding the extension of long-term emergency unemployment benefits.</i><br/><br/>What looked like a promising inroad to the extension of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefit that expired at the end of last year, was dealt a significant blow by the Senate minority last week.<br/><br/>Two separate procedural votes aimed at extending the current EUC program failed to make it past the 60-vote threshold. The first vote on the docket was a proposed amendment by Sen. Jack Reed, D-RI, that would extend the benefit program until November which would be funded by an extension of sequester cuts until 2024.<br/><br/>The second vote on the 3-month extension, which originally had the support of six Republicans, failed by a 54-45 margin with only bill co-sponsor Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev. remaining in favor of it.<br/><br/>The change in sentiment with regards to any extension seems to be based in the argument that there was no agreed upon payment provision for the programs. Another sticking point was the vote threshold for amendments (60) and the legislation passing (51), which Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, described as being “fundamentally unfair.”<br/><br/>This division in the Senate has severely hampered the likelihood of passage of any action that will extend long-term benefits, meaning that those 1.3 million Americans who lost their benefits in late December will be without any relief for the foreseeable according to some analysts.<br/><br/>With the Senate now unlikely to revisit the issue in the near future and more likely to focus on the details of a larger bill that will keep the government funded and open, any chance of extension legislation is becoming slimmer.<br/><br/>However, Senator Reid’s tactic of voting against his own motion to proceed enables him to bring up the bill for reconsideration if agreement is ever reached between the two sides.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> continues to remain hopeful that this benefit is reinstated to aid those unemployed jobseekers that rely on this benefit while they explore opportunities to find employment.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation </b>also remains firmly committed to its mission of preparing job seekers for tomorrow's global economy while lawmakers address this situation. Through our support of Federal, state, and local agencies, we will continue to design, develop, and operate performance-based workforce development programs aimed at improving both the lives as well as the communities affected by unemployment.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-62954457099939781562014-01-15T02:57:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.168-08:00A Look at the Size and State of the Current U.S. Workforce<b><i>KRA Corporation</i></b><i> takes a look at the U.S. workforce, how it stands, and some potential factors that could be affecting it. </i><br/><br/>A recent <a href="http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS11300000">Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Labor Participation rate graph</a> shows that the rate of participation for workers 16 years of age and older has dropped by more than 3% in the last 10 years (from 66.4% to 63%). It is a decline that is worrisome, as it might point to a weakened U.S. economy in the future as well as lowered growth prospects.<br/><br/>A <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/08/the-u-s-labor-force-is-still-shrinking-rapidly-heres-why/"><i>Washington Post</i> article</a> points to three factors that could be contributing to this phenomenon: a retiring baby boomer population (meaning fewer workers to choose from), the search for higher education in a bad economy, and an increase of workers receiving disability insurance.<br/><br/>It is also worrying as it begs the question as to how those that make up the U.S. workforce are faring in the current economic climate. Recessions make for belt tightening, and cutting fixed labor costs is one of the quickest ways to increase profits. It also leads to changing management techniques and restructuring of benefit packages.<br/><br/>Just how quickly those employment practices and company policies will shift is open for some debate. The bargaining power of jobseekers and employees has been severely affected, and there are factions that seem to think there will not be a rush by larger companies to restructure or change hiring practices.<br/><br/>The practice of hiring nonstandard, temporary, and/or part-time employees is something that some groups believe is not likely to change in the near future, either. An unfortunate by-product, which stems from the sense of lack of job security and impermanence of employment, is a decline in mental health for those affected by the change in employment status (something that <strong>KRA Corporation</strong> highlighted in a <a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/furloughs-and-their-extended-impacts/">previous post</a>).<br/><br/>These practices and a weak job market have given rise to more and more workforce “dropouts.” By simply giving up on searching for employment, they risk being left behind and eventually become unemployable—an unfortunate outcome that <strong>KRA Corporation</strong> continually strives to address and combat as part of its mission.<br/><br/>Additionally, the practice of offshoring continues to draw a lot of criticism, being regarded as a potential drain on the U.S. workforce with jobs being shipped internationally. Even with a rebounding economy, some economists believe that it will not spur a reversal of those decisions and bring the jobs back to the U.S.<br/><br/>There have been efforts made to create programs by the current administration, like the <a href="http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/leave-dol.asp?exiturl=http://www.eda.gov/challenges/MakeItInAmerica/&exitTitle=www.eda.gov&fedpage=yes"><b>Make it in America Challenge</b></a> (as highlighted in this <strong>KRA Corporation</strong> <a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/make-it-in-america-challenge-grants-aim-at-economic-growth-job-creation/">post</a>), to dissuade the practice and keep, expand, or reshore U.S.-based manufacturing operations—an effort at job creation that <strong>KRA Corporation</strong> applauds.<br/><br/>Since 1981, our commitment to supporting the mission of federal, state, and local agencies that are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and strengthening the communities in which we live has never wavered. Successfully weathering cyclical economic climates, <b>KRA Corporation </b>has remained dedicated to its mission of providing workforce development services that prepare jobseekers for tomorrow’s global economy and supply employers with a trained and reliable workforce.<span style="color: #271100; font-family: Arial;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-73050270992608542202014-01-08T03:52:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.177-08:00Long-term Unemployed Get Glimmer of Benefit ReliefThe lifeline that many in the White House hoped would be forthcoming for the 1.3 million Americans who lost their Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits on December 28, 2013 (which <b><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA Corporation</span></b> highlighted in a <a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/emergency-unemployment-compensation-benefits-program-set-to-expire/">recent blog post</a>), emerged yesterday.<br/><br/>In a bill co-sponsored by <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;">Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) and Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), t</span>he Senate agreed by a vote of 60-37 to proceed with an action that would temporarily reinstate benefits for the long-term unemployed for another 3 months.<br/><br/>Tom Perez, the Department of Labor Secretary, was congratulatory of the move <a href="http://social.dol.gov/blog/an-important-step-toward-extending-unemployment-benefits/">saying in a statement </a>that, “Today’s Senate vote was the right thing to do – an important step toward providing critical relief to families in economic distress. And it was also the smart thing to do – because these benefits would provide an economic stimulus by putting more money in the pockets of working families.”<br/><br/>While originally looking as though the necessary 60 votes were not going to be reached, in addition to Heller and Reed, , five other Republicans---Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Dan Coats (R-IN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Rob Portman (R-OH)---voted in favor to move the bill forward for bipartisan consideration in the House.<br/><br/>This was an important step toward reinstating the much-needed relief for those who lost jobs “through no fault of their own”, but still face some opposition in the House where Republicans might still stop the bill’s passage based on the grounds that there are no budgetary spending cuts that match the projected $6.5 billion it will cost.<br/><br/>House Speaker, John Boehner (R-OH), as part of statement after the vote, pointed to why it might find resistance stipulating, “One month ago I personally told the White House that another extension of temporary emergency unemployment benefits should not only be paid for but include something to help put people back to work. To date, the President has offered no such plan. If he does, I’ll be happy to discuss it, but right now the House is going to remain focused on growing the economy and giving America’s unemployed the independence that only comes from finding a good job.”<br/><br/>Other opposition to the extension is also rooted in the belief that these benefits act as a means of slowing or stopping recipients from reentering the workforce. However, a White House report argues that removing these benefits would negatively impact existing jobs and employment in the U.S. states with lack of spending resulting in job cuts in states’ local businesses.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> is heartened by the actions of the Senate and remains hopeful that this benefit is reinstated to aid those unemployed jobseekers in weathering the economic climate while also bolstering the economy by helping businesses to retain employees.<br/><br/>As an organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and strengthening the communities in which we live, <b>KRA Corporation</b> looks forward to continuing our work in supporting the mission of federal, state, and local agencies to prepare job seekers for tomorrow’s global economy and supply employers with a trained and reliable workforce.<br/><span style="color: #000000;"><br/></span><br/><br/> <br/><br/><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-30487085495902282242014-01-01T03:51:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.131-08:00Shrinking Federal Workforce Looks Set to Continue Downsize<b><i>KRA Corporation</i></b><i> looks at some of the figures and factors that predominate the size and earning capabilities of Federal employees as 2014 unfolds. </i><br/><br/>As the White House continues to employ measures aimed at creating jobs and growing the middle class, there is a movement toward shrinking their own ranks from within. According to a <a href="http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/12/uncle-sam-sheds-more-jobs-november/75059/"><i>Government Executive </i>article</a>, the Federal Government lost a further 7,000 jobs in November—which is on top of the additional 18,000 positions that closed in September and October combined.<br/><br/>It seems that this downward trend in employment within the government is calculated. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that some 92,000 Federal jobs were shed over the course of the last year with buyouts, hiring freezes, and retirement being some of the factors that have chiseled the number of jobs within the Federal government.<br/><br/>The core of this move to shrinking the number of government positions seems to be part of the budget balancing efforts, with the initiatives in the fiscal 2014 budget projected to diminish the government employment figures a further 3.6%.<br/><br/>It seems that attrition will be another contributor to a diminishing Federal workforce, with those positions made available by retiring employees apparently not being filled—a measure that is expected to cut the Federal employee roll by up to 10% by 2015.<br/><br/>Additionally, lawmakers are looking to reform compensation offered by the Federal government to its employees. In attempting to have Federal employees contribute to their pensions (coupled with benefits and pay changes) to be on par with the private sector, the House Budget Committee expects to trim an estimated $132 billion.<br/><br/>One of the factors that fuels the debate over cutting compensation is the average earnings between the public and private sector. Numbers and reports used to refute or corroborate reasoning seem to vary, however. A <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/07/government-employees-23-percent-less-private-sector_n_1080108.html"><i>Huffington Post</i> article</a> suggests that it might be as much as a quarter less from public to private in similar positions while a 2012 Congressional Budget Office report suggests that public-sector employees earn 16% more in total compensation.<br/><br/>As an organization dedicated to preparing job seekers for tomorrow's global economy and supplying employers with a trained and reliable workforce, <b>KRA Corporation</b> empathizes with those unemployed Federal employees and hopes for their speedy reintegration into the workforce.<b></b><br/><br/>In our efforts to improve the lives of individuals and strengthen the communities in which we live, <strong>KRA Corporation</strong> will continue to support the mission of Federal, state, and local agencies by servicing the needs of all those seeking employment through our innovative and comprehensive One-Stop Career Center Operations for WIA-eligible Adults, Dislocated Workers, and Youth and TANF Employment Services, regardless of political or economic environment. <span style="color: #000000;"><br/></span><br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-41438761475992475902013-12-26T02:45:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.141-08:00WIA Reauthorization and the End of 2013<b>KRA Corporation</b> examines where the Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization stands as this year draws to a close.<br/><br/>With questions circulating about the future of important federally-funded programs, the <b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and its pending reauthorization</span></b> should receive some special mention. Since it was last revisited in 2003, the failure to reauthorize P.L.105-220 has claimed some invaluable funding streams for workforce development programs. <span style="color: #000000;"> </span><br/><br/>It has not all been "can kicking" down the aisle. There have been reformation and reauthorization efforts on both sides of the political equation in recent years. This year, the Senate approved S. 1356 and the House passed H.R. 803, both of which offered potential alternatives to the current incarnation of the now-annually appropriated system. <span style="color: #000000;"><br/></span><br/><br/>As reported in the<a href="https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43265.pdf"> Congressional Research Service</a> in a comparison of the current law and the marked up version of S. 1356 , some of the major changes include: <i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;">“the adoption of primary indicators of performance across all WIA titles, the requirement of a Unified State Plan that includes all core programs, the authorization of innovation and replication grants, greater emphasis on economic and employment outcomes for adult education programs, and expanded services for youth and students with disabilities.”</span></i><br/><br/>The <a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42990.pdf">same service reported</a> that H.R. 803 would <i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;">“maintain the One-Stop delivery system established by WIA but would repeal numerous programs authorized by WIA and other federal legislation, and it would consolidate other programs into a new single funding source—the Workforce Investment Fund. Adult Education and Vocational Rehabilitation retain separate titles and funding in H.R. 803.”</span></i><br/><br/>It is evident that there are some considerable differences in the <b><span style="font-family: Arial;">WIA Reauthorization</span></b> efforts—which the <a href="http://narc.org/narc-releases-comparison-of-workforce-investment-act-reauthorization-bills/">National Association of Regional Councils</a> compiled a <a href="http://narc.org/wp-content/uploads/Comparison-of-Skills-Act-and-Workforce-Investment-Act_8-15-2013.pdf">side-by-side comparison</a> of—with the major difference existing within the states’ roles in fund management. <span style="color: #000000;"> </span><br/><br/>The House version overhauls the system to decentralize the funding with states being given more autonomy to spend as they see fit in, while the Senate’s more or less maintains the status quo, requiring a submission of a state unified plan to the federal government.<br/><br/>As in previous attempts at <b><span style="font-family: Arial;">WIA reauthorization</span></b>, this current iteration has failed to produce a shift in policy. Despite a report being ordered on July 31, 2013 report, S. 1356 is still awaiting full Senate consideration and H.R 803 has lain dormant since it was passed in the House of Representatives on March 15, 2013.<br/><br/>As 2013 draws to a close, we at <b><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA Corporation </span></b>remain confident that the current initiatives and recent Federal programmatic additions aimed at arming the U.S. workforce with the 21st-Century skills to be globally competitive and bolstering the economy will serve as the impetus for a bi-partisan push for WIA reauthorization in the near future.<br/><br/>Additionally, <b><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA Corporation </span></b>looks forward to lending our legislative support and extensive programmatic experience to making the eventual process a fruitful and successful venture.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><br/><br/> <br/><br/><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-55136668453128786752013-12-23T04:41:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.157-08:00Emergency Unemployment Compensation Benefits Program Set to ExpireToday seems set to be the day that millions of unemployed Americans will receive their final Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefit payment. The extension of these federally-funded unemployment benefits that is currently being offered to some 1.6 million jobless Americans is set to expire on December 31, 2013 with no phase-out period.<br/><br/>Congress has the capability and the authority to extend the deadline on those benefits (the parameters and proposed congressional amendments of which are outlined in this <a href="http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2163&context=key_workplace">report by the Congressional Research Service</a>).<br/><br/>However, the current bipartisan budget deal presented by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., does not contain any provision that could push that expiration forward, or set a new date.<br/><br/>The lack of any mention for extending the funding program in the proposed budget does not bode well for the EUC. Something the italicized “if” (in the statement "<em>If</em> the EUC program is extended by the U.S. Congress, benefits will be paid at that time if all other requirements of the law have been met") on the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation website would seem to tacitly acknowledge.<br/><br/>So, despite efforts by the White House, Democrats and some moderate Republicans, it seems that time—and energy—might run out on the effort to extend the additional emergency unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for those unemployed Americans who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits.<br/><br/>But, as grave as the situation is for the 1.6 million recipients affected by the recent budget considerations (and who will be cut off on in late December), it also stands to impact a significant number of people beyond when an additional almost 4 million people will lose UI benefits in the first half of the new year.<br/><br/>Sadly, as of a November <a href="http://stateofworkingamerica.org/economic-indicators/job-seekers-ratio/"><i>State of Working America </i>report</a><i>, </i>there is still almost a 3-1 seeker-to-available job ratio in the U.S.—a statistic that <strong>KRA Corporation</strong><b></b>consistently and actively attempts to influence positively through the operation of<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;"> </span>WIA-funded One-Stop Career Centers for Adult, Dislocated, and Youth jobseekers, as well as several types of TANF-funded Work <span style="color: #000000;">Participation, Placement, and Support Services Programs for recipients of public assistance</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">.<span style="color: #000000;"> </span></span><br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> will continue to advocate for programs that are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and strengthening the communities in which we live, remains hopeful that the prevailing economic situation will sway lawmakers to revisit the much-needed EUC benefit for our long-term unemployed jobseekers.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;"> </span><br/><br/> <br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-87298027826990073692013-12-10T04:44:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.195-08:00Apprenticeship Model Gains Traction but Barriers Remain<b><i>KRA Corporation</i></b><i> has followed the increased attention that apprenticeship is receiving in the effort to revitalize workforce initiatives for youth and we look at some of the barriers it faces.</i><br/><br/>There has been a fair amount of buzz recently around the advantages of adopting the <b><span style="font-family: Arial;">apprenticeship</span></b> model as a solution to the burgeoning unemployment figures among U.S. youth.<br/><br/>It does have one major fan in its corner—President Barack Obama—who believes: "an economy built to last demands that we keep doing everything we can to help students learn the skills that businesses are looking for." His commitment to that belief in the apprenticeship model was very clearly demonstrated with his <a href="http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20132231.htm">Youth CareerConnect</a> grant program.<br/><br/>With a widening skills gap threatening companies that need skilled labor if the re-emerging manufacturing sector is to blossom, it seems like a fairly simple (and successfully proven) solution to harness or create those skills from an early age—something that <b><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA Corporation</span></b> fully appreciates and seeks to promote through its successful WIA Youth Services Programs.<br/><br/>However, the earn-as-you-learn model continues—as it has for quite some time—to be a sticky one for many different factions directly involved in the process, as well as those that are affected by it. For some it is viewed with skepticism, and for others flat-out scorn.<br/><br/>It doesn’t help that there seems to be a stigma attached to the vocational education system. And it is a stigma that directly impacts those that it is targeting—the youth. Despite it being outdated with the skills required to perform these jobs becoming increasingly more technical, the belief that this is the purview of the under-educated still abounds. It is a sentiment that is eroding (according to this <a href="http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=500917"><i>Reading Eagle </i>article</a>) but still clings to life.<br/><br/>Along those same lines, part of the battle is the culture of the natural (and aspirational) progression of education which dictates students finish high school, go to college, and then find a befitting job. It is still espoused that those who couldn’t quite make the grade (or get the grades) where the group who took the other route—setting up the two-tier mentality.<br/><br/>From an employment point of view, the detraction is that it is a dead-end proposition with no room for further education while removing any opportunity for upward mobility or prospects for alternate employment if the industry down-turned.<br/><br/>It also requires buy-in from the companies themselves, many of whom have neither the resources nor the inclination to take the training upon themselves. Some organizations feel that this responsibility to provide trained workers is someone else’s responsibility.<br/><br/>Ineffective implementation efforts or protocols, initial capital inputs, and overall lack of understanding of the process when attempting it slow it down and with minimal returns that seem to reinforce those misconceptions, it is deemed an unsustainable model.<br/><br/>One hurdle, a <a href="http://www.innovationamerica.us/index.php/innovation-daily/34275-where-factory-apprenticeship-is-latest-model-from-germany-nytimescom?utm_source=innovation-daily---your-daily-newsletter-highlighting-global-innovation-news-and-trends&utm_medium=gazetty&utm_campaign=12-02-2013"><i>New York Times</i> article</a> reporting on new apprenticeship models, based on German school-to-industry partnership models that are being adopted in South Carolina, is that companies see apprenticeships as gateways to unions.<br/><br/>Perhaps it could be as simple as the parochial U.S. mindset that “our way is better” or “this isn’t our system, it’s what they do in Europe” and it is this way of thinking that needs to change.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation </b>applauds any effort that moves the development needle that impacts our youth—a core component of the modern U.S. workforce. We remain committed to ensuring the success of the WIA Youth Services and Workforce Investment Board system and are hopeful that future models related to workforce development initiatives for youth will continue to help the cause.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-6058165566097690702013-12-04T12:29:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.160-08:00Sector-driven Workforce Development…Is it Working?—Part 2<b><i>KRA Corporation</i></b><i> continues this short series, looking at sector-based employment and training as a much-needed approach for some local workforce and economic development systems…</i><br/><br/>A few weeks ago, it was reported here that 10 years ago, the Bush administration laid out a “groundbreaking approach for closing employment skills gaps”---the High Growth Job Training Initiative (HGJTI) aimed at equipping workers with the technical skills they need to be successful in the workforce. The full article can be viewed <a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/sector-driven-workforce-developmentis-it-working/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br/><br/>The Department of Labor (DOL), through the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Women’s Bureau, and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), have all contributed significantly to DOL’s intent “to invest in national models and demonstrations of workforce solutions in these [14 HGJTI] sectors.” Many of these models and demonstrations were funded through grant programs.<br/><br/>Activities conducted as part of the HGJTI focused on the distribution of products and lessons-learned resulting from grants to Community Based Organizations (CBO)/ other non-profit organizations, community colleges/other institutions of higher education, Workforce Investment Boards (WIB), State and local government agencies, and other eligible workforce investment system stakeholders.<br/><br/>Some of the grants with HGJTI goals and objectives included the following:<br/><ul><br/> <li><b><i>Older Worker Demonstration Grants</i></b> addressed the workforce challenges facing older individuals by providing training and related services for individuals age 55 and older that result in employment and advancement opportunities in high-growth industries and economic sectors.</li><br/> <li><b><i>Community-Based Job Training Grants</i></b> supported workforce training for high-growth industries through the national system of community and technical colleges through funds awarded to individual community and technical colleges, community college districts, state community college systems, and One-Stop Career Centers.</li><br/> <li><b><i>YouthBuild Grants</i></b> provided disadvantaged, low-income youth with education and employment skills necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency in occupations in high demand, including opportunities for education and training, for meaningful work, and developing employment and leadership skills.</li><br/> <li><b><i>Technology-Based Learning Initiative Grants</i></b> expanded access to training resulting in an increased number of workers trained, particularly in high-growth, high-demand occupations, and to meet the needs of industry for skilled employees. These grants were designed to expand the vital role of TBL in helping workers quickly acquire the training and skills they need to be successful in today’s global economy.</li><br/> <li> <b><i>Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Grants</i></b> conducted innovative projects to improve the recruitment, selection, training, employment, and retention of women in apprenticeships in the construction industry through three RAP (Registered Apprenticeship Program)/CBO consortia, each consisting of a minimum of: (1) a construction industry RAP sponsor; and (2) a CBO with demonstrated experience in job-training services that included hard- and soft-skill development and job-placement and support to women for construction industry jobs.</li><br/> <li><b><i>High-Growth Job Training Initiative for the Energy Industry/Construction and Skilled Trades in the Energy Industry</i></b> <b><i>Grants</i></b> for high-impact regional approaches to meet the workforce challenges of the energy industry and/or address the shortage of construction and skilled trade workers needed to maintain and expand the energy industry infrastructure.</li><br/> <li><b><i>Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Opportunities in the Workforce System Initiative Grants</i></b> expanded and aligned current and new STEM workforce education and training strategies, activities, and resources in One Stop Career Centers to promote, attract, and prepare disadvantaged youth and dislocated workers for STEM careers, while simultaneously enhancing the competitive position of local and regional employers., which continues to gained momentum</li><br/> <li><b><i>Health Profession Opportunity Grants</i></b>, established by The Affordable Care Act of 2010 and funded by the DHHS, provided for training programs in high-demand health care professions to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients and other low-income individuals.</li><br/></ul><br/>The next article in this series will explore the DOL/WIA- and DHHS/TANF-funded programs, including those operated by <strong>KRA Corporation, </strong>that provide targeted education and training opportunities available to prepare jobseeker-customers for employment in those industries identified locally as high-growth employment business sectors.<br/><br/><strong>KRA Corporation</strong> leverages its 30+ years’ experience in program development, management, and operation to assist our employer-customers in high-growth sectors, while still ensuring that all jobseeker-customers are equitably served according to their individual needs. In this way, we continue to prepare job seekers for tomorrow’s global economy and to supply employers with a trained and reliable workforce.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-40195278672968613122013-11-26T07:04:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.138-08:00Youth CareerConnect Grants Give Skills Initiative Additional BoostThe Obama administration has taken another step toward making good on its promise to help better prepare students entering the workforce, as well as ensuring that the U.S workforce can compete globally, by announcing $100 million dollars to fund <a href="http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20132231.htm">Youth CareerConnect <span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial;"> </span>Grants.</a><br/><br/>This competitive grant—using money from the H1-B visa program—offers awards of between $2-$7 million for 25-40 <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;">education agencies, public or non-profit local workforce entities, or non-profits with education reform experience</span> involved in individual or multi-site projects<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;">. </span><br/><br/>It is reassuring that the commitments made are being honored by lawmakers, and <b><span style="font-family: Arial;">KRA Corporation</span></b> applauds the continued investment in the upcoming generation of young workers, as well as providing a viable platform for forward-thinking solutions to workforce development.<br/><br/>As an organization that pioneered the YES (Youth Employability & Success) Program as part of its comprehensive WIA Youth Services operations, <b>KRA Corporation</b> advocates for any program that will provide relevant education, training, and work-readiness programs for the at-risk youth population benefitting the individual, businesses, and overall economic growth.<br/><br/>An increasing number of high school students lack exposure to meaningful links between secondary and postsecondary education or available career paths. This new initiative is modeled after career and technical education programs (like <a href="http://www.ptechnyc.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1">P-TECH</a>) whose programs are operated in collaboration with corporations, folding in certifications (in the form of Associates Degrees) with basic requirements for entry-level employment within the sponsoring corporation.<br/><br/>According to the <a href="http://www.doleta.gov/ycc/">DOLETA fact sheet</a>, this program is designed to increase the flow of prepared workers into the system through five combined principles: <i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;">Integrated Academic and Career-Focused Learning</span></i>, <i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;">Work-Based Learning and Exposure to the World of Work</span></i>, <i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;">Robust Employer Engagement</span></i>, <i><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;">Individualized Career and Academic Counseling</span></i> and <span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #000000;"><i>Integration of Post-secondary Education and Training</i>.</span></span><br/><br/>According to <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/obama-launches-competition-to-revamp-high-schools-100050.html"><i>Politico</i></a>, the program has received a frosty reception from some education groups who have concerns about the limiting scope that the competitive nature of the granting process will have on schools. The inaccessibility by some rural schools that do not have grant writers nor some of the basic criteria for eligibility due to location and size was another sticking point.<br/><br/>It has also drawn criticism from inside the government for bypassing support from associated lawmakers, and its seemingly direct competition with the <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial;">Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education program (which is up for reauthorization), thereby adding a different and potentially confusing level to the system. </span><br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> understands that bringing projects to the scale of magnitude that this program requires to be deemed successful is a difficult proposition. However, we remain optimistic that these grants could represent a necessary step toward youth employment and global competitiveness, as well as a boost for the economy in the future.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;"><br/></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #000000;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-61667721306285114452013-11-21T03:14:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.165-08:00The Difference in Getting PaidAs a company that has dedicated more than 30 years to improving the lives of individuals and strengthening the communities in which we live, <b>KRA Corporation</b> cast an intrigued eye over two interesting articles—both of which dealt with disparities in what workers have traditionally gotten paid—from the different DOL departments in the official blog, <a href="http://social.dol.gov/blog/"><i>Work in Progress</i></a>.<br/><br/>Most interesting was the scope of focus regarding how the various tiers of payment practices and the discrepancies that exist have affected workers among certain groups. As many strides have been made in creating parity in the workforce since the turn of the 20th century, <b>KRA Corporation</b> recognizes that there remain some glaring gaps that will have to be tackled before a level and equitable playing field can exist.<br/><br/>The first article, <a href="http://social.dol.gov/blog/keeping-the-promise-of-opportunity/">Keeping the Promise of Opportunity</a>, by Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, took a highline approach to addressing an issue that has been on the workforce radar as high up as the Oval Office—increasing the federal minimum wage. It is something that he sees as “part of a larger struggle to cut poverty and to address the challenge of income inequality.”<br/><br/>This is an issue that has drawn criticism from many detractors but one that President Obama (dubbing it “unfinished business”) has openly supported and which remains a hot topic issue on Capitol Hill—so much so that <a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/11/11/democrats-secret-weapon-in-2014--minimum-wage">Lauren Fox</a> of <i>U.S. News</i> believes it is a powerful enough issue that it will be used for political leverage in 2014.<br/><br/>The second article, <a href="http://social.dol.gov/blog/women-of-color-an-economic-snapshot/">Women of Color: An Economic Snapshot</a>, penned by acting director of the Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau, Latifa Lyles<i>, </i>offers an interesting and more granular look at a particular segment of the workforce that is directly impacted by disparities in equality within the payment structure—women of color.<br/><br/>The statistical analysis of the differences details just how marked a gap there is in earnings, despite similar capabilities. Noting the positive steps that are being taken to narrowing that earnings margin, it remains staggering to see just how disparate of scale that exists between genders and then even more so between races.<br/><br/>Both articles highlight the breadth and depth of the issues surrounding pay scale discrepancies in the workforce. It is a concern that will require a concerted and focused effort—at both a company and Federal level—in creating an equitable balance among members of the U.S. workforce.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> advocates for equality in all facets of workforce development, both in earning and equitable treatment among all members constituting the workforce, and our team will continue to support the efforts of those changing the status quo at a policy level. We offer our sincerest thanks to those companies that further the move toward payment equality as a standard practice.<br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-54861403500104007852013-11-19T03:52:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.153-08:00U.S. Department of Labor Carries On Its WorkIt is reassuring to see that it is business as usual around the halls of the Department of Labor (DOL), which has picked up right where it left off after the temporary shutdown, with last week proving to be very productive for the agency.<br/><br/>Labor Secretary Perez offered his opinions <a href="http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20132159.htm">on the employment figures for October</a> (which continue to move in a healthy direction). In his characteristic uncompromising fashion, the Secretary took a very outspoken approach on actions by the government that he feels have hindered forward progress in social and employment equity, as well as hurting the overall cause of workforce development.<br/><br/>The Secretary remained critical of the recent government shutdown stating “The American people deserve leadership that focuses on growing the economy—not holding it hostage.”<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> remains firm in its support of those who champion the plight of the U.S. workforce, and as such we appreciate the Secretary’s resolute commitment to that workforce, as well as his endeavors to keep its development and new initiatives moving forward.<br/><br/>The Senate also recently passed the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that has drawn criticisms from different and sometimes unexpected quarters. If signed into law, this bill promises to offer protection and safeguards to all employees regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity—specific protections that to date are non-existent in Federal civil-rights law.<br/><br/>As this relates to equitable treatment in the workplace, <b>KRA Corporation</b> is pleased to see the passage of this bill into the House of Representatives as a step forward to workplaces that are fairly and equally represented.<br/><br/>Although not directly related to current events in workforce development, <b>KRA Corporation </b>is pleased to observe that the DOL remains current in ensuring that every opportunity for the U.S. workforce is made available by highlighting some of those rungs on the ladder to success that might otherwise be missed.<br/><br/>A recent post on the <a href="http://social.dol.gov/blog/is-your-relationship-on-the-rocks/"><i>Work in Progress</i></a> blog discussed the importance of employees taking responsibility for their own financial future by heeding some of the warning signs that their retirement savings might be in jeopardy.<br/><br/>The post highlights five examples, which could indicate that a 401(k) plan is not being managed correctly or is being abused. It even goes as far as to point those who feel that they are not being best served towards the assistance they need.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation </b>applauds the DOL’s impressive output since the shutdown and especially the steps taken in regard to increased equity for all stakeholders and members in the workforce. With the strides being taken, we anticipate that workforce development efforts should yield some very exciting and bold outcomes in the very near future for employers and employees alike.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-67540451721888058092013-11-15T03:27:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.174-08:00Our Veterans: Opportunities to Serve Beyond the MilitaryVeterans Day prompted a buzz in the Department of Labor (DOL), with the agency highlighting the legislation that was passed this year, as well as the existing resources available to this important workforce group.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> believes that—after youth employment programming—our veterans are the most important group in public workforce policy and so we are heartened to see that the DOL’s commitment to improving the employment plight of U.S. veterans remains consistent.<br/><br/>Ensuring that veterans get access to employment programs and initiatives is something in which Secretary of Labor Perez has taken a personal interest, overseeing the <a href="http://www.dol.gov/vets">Veterans’ Employment and Training Service</a> program to help veterans find civilian jobs.<br/><br/>It is indeed an alarming statistic that in 2012 there were estimates of as many as 62,000 homeless veterans, while in 2011 a reported 900,000 ex-servicemen and women relied on the <a href="http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)</a> to sustain themselves and their dependents.<br/><br/>In his <a href="http://social.dol.gov/blog/honoring-veterans-by-hiring-veterans/">recent blog post</a>, Secretary Perez pointed to the existing programs that are designed specifically to help veterans return to civilian life and find sustainable jobs in an effort to combat the reported high rates of unemployment (upwards of 20% among veterans between ages 18-24).<br/><br/>Programs like Veterans Retraining Assistance Program, or VRAP (which <b>KRA Corporation</b> <a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/vrap-helping-unemployed-veterans-join-the-workforce/">highlighted in a post</a>), the <a href="http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/tap/tap_fs.htm">Transition Assistance Program</a> (TAP), and the additional help provided specifically for veterans at American Job Centers (still known as One-Stop Career Centers in some sectors) around the U.S. all aim to address and overcome the barriers that re-entry into civilian life can present.<br/><br/>The First and Second Ladies have also lent their efforts through the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces/about">Joining Forces program. </a>This program rallies support from all quarters of society to provide resources that t<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces/about">arget e</a>mployment, education and continuing health opportunities for active and past military and their families.<br/><br/>The update to the Family Medical Leave Act, relating to continued benefits and extended leaves of absence for family members caring for returning military personnel injured in conflict and deployment-related considerations, is further evidence that the DOL is committed to the needs of servicemen and women beyond simply helping to find employment.<br/><br/>Principal deputy administrator for the Wage and Hour Division, Laura Fortman, perhaps mirrored <b>KRA Corporation’s</b> sentiments best regarding both our military personnel and employees when she said: “No one should have to choose between the job they need and caring for the family that needs them.”<br/><br/>Our military personnel made the choice to serve their country, and deserve our thanks and our respect. Their service also translates into invaluable skills and attributes that are of great use in the civilian workforce.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> will continue to focus our experience and efforts on helping to serve a vital part of the U.S. workforce and ensure that our military personnel receive the peacetime support and opportunities they need to succeed in the civilian workforce.<br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-66826902727860249582013-11-12T05:06:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.171-08:00Sector-driven Workforce Development…Is it Working?<i><strong>KRA Corporation</strong> looks at sector-based employment and training as a much-needed approach for some local workforce and economic development systems…</i><br/><br/>Ten years ago, then President George W. Bush laid out what his administration considered a “groundbreaking approach for closing employment skills gaps.” In his address, he stated “The High Growth Job Training Initiative…is aiming to give workers the skills they need to realize their dreams. It’s a collaborative effort to help team up people with the jobs that are needed, to make sure that the changes in our economy don’t leave people behind.”<br/><br/>Subsequently, the Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) website reported, “This initiative represents the first step in a series of actions…to engage business, education and the workforce investment system to work together to develop solutions to the workforce challenges facing high growth industries.<br/><br/>Fields like health care, information technology, and advanced manufacturing have jobs and solid career paths left open due to a lack of people qualified to fill them. The High Growth Job Training Initiative targets education and skills development resources toward helping workers gain the skills they need to build successful careers in these and other growing industries.”<br/><br/>The report continued, “To put this approach into action, ETA identified 14 sectors that fit within the following criteria: (1) they are projected to add substantial numbers of new jobs to the economy or affect the growth of other industries; or (2) they are existing or emerging businesses being transformed by technology and innovation requiring new skills sets for workers." The 14 sectors identified are: Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace, Automotive, Biotechnology, Construction, Energy, Financial Services, Geospatial Technology, Health Care, Homeland Security, Hospitality, Information Technology, Retail, and Transportation.<br/><br/>The report concluded, “The High Growth Job Training Initiative [HGJTI] continues to invest in national models and demonstrations of workforce solutions in these sectors designed to achieve the following outcomes: Targeted investment of workforce development resources and support for private and public sector partnerships to ensure the development of workers’ skills in occupations where industry has identified needs [and] Increased integration of community and technical college efforts with business and the public workforce system activities to meet the skills training needs of high growth industries.”<br/><br/>By expanding local workforce systems’---i.e., Workforce Investment Boards through which many KRA programs are funded---capacity (1) to contribute to the economic development of the community, (2) to be market-driven, and (3) to be responsive to local workforce needs, DOL/ETA promotes economic competitiveness, enhanced productivity, and true workforce quality through HGJTI programming.<br/><br/>Through the operation of its One-Stop Career Center Programs, <strong>KRA Corporation</strong> continually encourages employers operating in high-growth sectors to use Apprenticeships, Occupational Skills Training, and On-the-Job Training Programs as viable skills-development resources to ensure themselves a pipeline of skilled workers, which in turn, provides workers with career enhancing opportunities in high-growth sector occupations.<br/><br/>In future <i>Workforce&Government</i> articles, <strong>KRA Corporation</strong> will take a look at both grant- and contract-funded DOL/ETA programs designed to provide training opportunities in those industries identified as high-growth employment business sectors, as well as a healthcare-sector opportunity grant program funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. We will also explore some State's initiatives---Full Employment Programs---and the role they play in assisting employers to train workers that are needed to fill employment gaps in targeted sectors.<br/><br/><strong>KRA Corporation</strong> will continue to leverage its 30+ years’ experience in program development, management, and operation to assist our employer-customers in high-growth sectors, while still ensuring that all jobseeker-customers are equitably served according to their individual needs. In this way, we continue to prepare job seekers for tomorrow’s global economy and to supply employers with a trained and reliable workforce.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-77465772270266892902013-11-06T01:46:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.180-08:00Make it in America Challenge Grants Aim at Economic Growth, Job Creation<b><i>KRA Corporation</i></b><i> explores the new Obama Administration initiative designed to create projects that aid in accelerated job creation and increased business investment in the manufacturing sector.</i><br/><br/>The winners of the <a href="http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/leave-dol.asp?exiturl=http://www.eda.gov/challenges/MakeItInAmerica/&exitTitle=www.eda.gov&fedpage=yes">Make it in America Challenge</a> were <a href="http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20132055.htm">announced recently</a> with the 10 grantees receiving a combined total of $20,533,409 for “projects supporting regional economic development, advanced skills training, greater supply chain access and other enhancements.”<br/><br/>The grant winners submitted applications for projects that “help distressed regions build on existing assets, promote a competitive environment for foreign-owned and domestic firms to establish and grow their U.S. operations, create jobs and develop a skilled workforce for specific industries.”<br/><br/>The Make it in America Challenge—a jointly-funded effort aiding programs whose aim is to keep, expand, or reshore U.S.-based manufacturing operations, as well as attracting foreign business investment—is an attempt to develop and explore sustainable and means of capitalizing on the recent resurgence in the manufacturing sector (with reported figures of over half a million jobs created in this industry).<br/><br/>The initiative looks to strengthen the economy and build on the manufacturing sector’s recent success by convincing both international and domestic businesses to either build and/or expand their U.S. operations. By encouraging U.S companies to reshore or expand domestic facilities, and attracting new international business investment and operations, job creation—and skilled jobs at that—will be accelerated further.<br/><br/>Secretary Perez, speaking to the initiative said: <i>"in an increasingly sophisticated economy, equipping workers with the skills they need to succeed on the job isn't just a workforce development issue, but also an economic development issue and the partnerships funded through these Make it in America Challenge grants are helping to lead the way." </i><br/><br/>As a company dedicated to leading workforce development into the future, <b>KRA Corporation</b> appreciates the emphasis placed on the need for strategies and programs that equip workers with the requisite skills that, not only provide businesses with a trained and capable worker, but also the ability to adapt and succeed into the future.<br/><br/>As part of the initiative, the Department of Commerce published an informational tool, the <a href="http://acetool.commerce.gov/">Assess Costs Everywhere (ACE)</a>, which highlights the associated costs and risks of offshore production as well as providing links to resources (public and private) to help better inform and guide companies in their decision making process as to locating offshore.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> salutes this bold multi-layered effort to bring companies back to the U.S. as well as attracting foreign investment onshore in an effort to stimulate the economy and aid in new job creation the same time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-29501822085207650612013-11-03T05:47:00.000-08:002014-03-03T15:37:03.128-08:00DOL Steams Ahead After ShutdownAfter 16 days of being shut down, it only took the Department of Labor (DOL) a week to hit the ground running, announcing grants and measures furthering workforce development in many sectors and addressing worker safety.<br/><br/>Secretary of Labor, Thomas Perez, was critical of the government shutdown dubbing it “a divisive struggle that inflicted unnecessary wounds on the economy.” In a <a href="http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20132060.htm">news release </a>regarding the September employment figures, one which boasted the 43rd consecutive month of growth and one in which average hourly wage increased 3 cents, Secretary Perez made his feelings known.<br/><br/>In the release, he spoke of a “modest pace” in America’s “road to recovery” maintaining that economic uncertainty was a reality even prior to the government shutdown (what he deemed a “standoff”) and that “this avoidable confrontation was exactly what an economy on the mend did not need”.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> understands and appreciates Secretary Perez’s concerns regarding the potential and as yet unseen fallout regarding the lost 16 days. However, we are encouraged to see that the DOL continues ahead at full steam in trying to determine the most effective means to develop all facets and members of the U.S. workforce, while remaining vigilant on behalf of those in the workforce.<br/><br/>Recently, the current administration awarded $20.5 million in grants for <a href="http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20132055.htm"><i>Make it in America Challenge</i></a>—an initiative that backs the push for accelerated and increased job creation through “regional economic development, advanced skills training, greater supply chain access and other enhancements.”<br/><br/>In addressing increased worker safety, the DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration also recently launched two new web-based resources. The first, a <a href="http://www.osha.gov/dsg/safer_chemicals/index.html">toolkit</a>, offers employers a step-by-step guide to hazardous chemical substitution, while the second—the Annotated Permissible Exposure Limits (or PEL tables)—helps employers to adopt updated exposure limits aimed at offering more protection to employees.<br/><br/>Additionally, it was announced that the <a href="https://disability.workforce3one.org/command/view.aspx?look=2001329646229980685&mode=info&pparams=">Department of Education has awarded almost $5million</a> in research project and program development grants to five institutions to improve the lives of disabled Americans. The ultimate aim of the grants is intended to “fulfill the goal of inclusion, integration, employment and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities.”<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> is heartened by the fact that the DOL is back in the saddle again and despite the setbacks continues to add rungs to the “ladder of opportunity” in trying to aid job growth and development as well as protecting and safeguarding the American workforce.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> remains confident that this administration will see the benefit of approaching workforce development as a vital cog in economic development and look to further it accordingly. The <b>KRA Corporation</b> team remains focused on assisting in the advancement of current, and new, innovative and far-reaching programs that prepare job seekers for tomorrow’s global economy and supply employers with a trained and reliable workforce.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-17967684613694359852013-10-29T04:07:00.000-07:002014-03-03T15:37:03.118-08:00America’s Disconnected Youth: A Problem with a Solution PendingThere is a segment of the American population with massive, untapped potential (and one that <b>KRA Corporation</b> has long championed) that is approaching Depression Era-levels of unemployment—<b>America’s disconnected youth</b>.<br/><br/>An interesting report from January 2012, <a href="http://www.serve.gov/new-images/council/pdf/econ_value_opportunity_youth.pdf"><i>The Economic Value of Opportunity Youth</i></a>, published by researchers from University of New York and Columbia University estimated that as many as 7 million young Americans between the ages of 16-24 were out of school and unemployed in 2011.<br/><br/>Dubbed “Opportunity Youth,” the researchers divide the <b>disconnected youth</b> into two categories: <i>chronic</i> (unemployed and out of school or work after the age of 16) which they estimated at 3.4 million, and <i>under-attached </i>(limited schooling and work experience but without tertiary education of stable employment) estimated at 3.3 million. A more recent <a href="http://www.measureofamerica.org/one-in-seven/"><i>Measure of America</i></a> report from September, 2012, estimated that one in seven in that age group are disconnected and "cost" approximately $93.7 billion in government support and lost tax revenue.<br/><br/>Beyond the price tag for taxpayers, there is also the societal and the individual costs to consider. With the early lack of attachment, there are often far-reaching effects. Unemployment, higher likelihood of criminal activity, and poor health at a young age result in diminished vocational experience (resulting in lowered earning potential), difficulty in finding employment after incarceration, and an inability to find employment with health insurance.<br/><br/>The factors contributing to disconnection are numerous. Ethnicity, disability, familial instability, sexual orientation, personal beliefs, dropping out of high school, care-giving responsibilities, and mental or health conditions are some of the more documented reasons; and, according to an <a href="http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=youth&id=0052">article posted on the CLASP website</a>, low-income young African-American and Latino men are most at risk.<br/><br/>This situation has prompted Federal action. Last year speaking to the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/05/we-cant-wait-white-house-announces-federal-and-private-sector-commitment">record number of America’s disconnected youth</a>, President Obama pointed to the need for immediate action calling it an “all-hands-on-deck moment” and launched the <i>Summer Jobs+</i> program as a joint initiative between the Federal government and private business. Additionally, tax credits were made available to businesses that employed disconnected youth.<br/><br/>The Council for Community Solutions was tasked with determining recommendations to disconnected and issued a report <a href="http://www.serve.gov/new-images/council/pdf/12_0604whccs_finalreport.pdf"><i>Community Solutions for Opportunity Youth</i></a> that was aimed at “putting every young person on a clear path to economic opportunity.”<br/><br/>The Department of Education’s June 2012 request for information, <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/06/04/2012-13473/request-for-information-on-strategies-for-improving-outcomes-for-disconnected-youth"><i>Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Disconnected Youth</i></a>, to <i>“create innovative and comprehensive reengagement strategies that encourage additional academic and non-academic supports and support multiple pathways to prepare disconnected youth for college and career success” </i>further evidenced the Federal government’s commitment to finding a solution by involving key stakeholders.<br/><br/>There is little homogeneity as to solutions in addressing or remedying the issue of <b>disconnected youth</b>. It is not a one-size-fits-all cure as situations and circumstances differ significantly. Some recommendations from the <i>Measure of America</i> suggest that technical or vocational technology education and certificates, associate’s degrees as well as increased intervention and on-the job training be explored as potential alternatives to a 4-year degree—an opinion explored by <b>KRA Corporation</b> in a <a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/apprenticeships-and-on-the-job-training-a-growing-need/">previous post</a>.<br/><br/>The problem persists, but there seems to be an urgency at play in identifying, developing and harnessing the promise that this underserved group offers. The <b>KRA Corporation</b> team continues its nationwide efforts to address this serious problem through our <a href="http://www.kra.com/about-kra-corporation/local-workforce-development-clients/">WIA-funded In-School and Out-of-School Youth Services Programs</a>. Our innovative YES (Youth Employability and Success) Programs support youth education, training, and employment through an extensive mix of services.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/apprenticeships-and-on-the-job-training-a-growing-need/"><b>KRA Corporation</b> </a>looks forward to the future efforts and policies that Federal agencies offer in combatting this pervasive problem. Every initiative and attempt is a step closer to determining a better course of action and successful integration of this population into the workforce. In that regard, as we have for many years in the past, KRA is proudly sponsoring the <a href="http://www.nawdp.org/Content/NavigationMenu/WorkforceDevelopment/AnnualConference/">National Association of Workforce Development Professionals’ 2013 Youth Development Symposium</a> convening now (October 28-30<sup>th</sup>) in Chicago.<br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-20491291186278700002013-10-22T04:20:00.000-07:002014-03-03T15:37:03.122-08:00Government Open for Business AgainAfter 16 days of a tense stand off, a 252-144 House of Representatives and 81-18 Senate vote ended the government shutdown with President Obama signing a bill last week that reopened the government until the middle of January and effectively raised the debt ceiling until early February.<br/><br/>As an organization dedicated for 3 decades to employment and workforce development—preparing job seekers for tomorrow’s global economy and supplying employers with a trained and reliable workforce—<b>KRA Corporation</b> is pleased that those furloughed workers have returned to work.<br/><br/>Regarding the bill signing, and the end of the shutdown, President Obama said, "I've said it before, I'll say it again: I am willing to work with anybody, I am eager to work with anybody—Democrat or Republican, House or Senate members—on any idea that will grow our economy, create new jobs, strengthen the middle class, and get our fiscal house in order for the long term.”<br/><br/>However, there is some fallout caused by the furloughs. For the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the areas most affected deal with the immigration and the e-Verify processes. Website, <a href="http://www.laborimmigration.com/2013/10/u-s-federal-government-reopens-today-october-17th-dol-backlogs-expected/">Labor Immigration Law</a>, believes that as a result “immigration-related services to be, at the very least, heavily backlogged for some time.” And, <a href="http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=fd77f833-6f42-43ba-9a45-0d9cd1fb6b48">Lexology</a> is reporting that “while the DOL and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are considering temporary solutions for the affected H-1B petitions, these proceedings are in limbo.” We at <b>KRA Corporation</b> wish all those businesses and individuals affected by the shutdown a speedy resolution and all the best in hiring the most-qualified candidates.<br/><br/>As for official announcements, other than the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTMxMDE4LjI0MjQ2ODIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDEzMTAxOC4yNDI0NjgyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MzEyNDY0JmVtYWlsaWQ9ZGFycmVuQG9wdXNieXdpcmUuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1kYXJyZW5Ab3B1c2J5d2lyZS5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20132044.htm"><b>Statement on September Employment Situation report</b></a> and the posting by Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy, Kathy Martinez, addressing the importance of <a href="http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/">National Disability Employment Awareness Month</a>, the official blog, <i>Work In Progress</i>,<i> </i>has remained somewhat quiet since the restart with no words or thoughts from DOL Secretary Tom Perez.<br/><br/>The <b>KRA Corporation</b> team, however, remains confident that the important work and innovative policies coming out of Secretary Perez’s office regarding workforce development will resume at the blistering pace they were before the shutdown occurred, and there will be plenty to highlight in the coming weeks.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> is most pleased that with the government employees back in their offices, we can get back to doing what we do best: supporting the mission of those Federal, state, and local agencies that improve the lives of individuals and strengthen the communities in which we live.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-47991315272483046682013-10-17T02:41:00.000-07:002014-03-03T15:37:03.144-08:00Looking at Federal Workforce Development PositivesThe recent Federal government hiatus gave us at <b>KRA Corporation</b> pause to reflect on and highlight some of the recent positive and innovative actions of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) related to workforce development.<br/><br/>After being sworn in as the newest Secretary of Labor, Thomas Perez described the DOL as the “quarterback in a workforce-development system” in an interview with the <a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-09-01/politics/41670824_1_labor-department-labor-day-minimum-wage"><i>Washington Post</i></a>. Even though his tenure has been short, the new Secretary has had a busy period at the helm for the DOL.<br/><br/>A staunch advocate of workers’ rights, he has dubbed the DOL as the “department of opportunity,” speaking frequently of the “ladder of opportunity” and his dedication to the President’s move for a “better bargain for the middle class.”<br/><br/>Skills acquisition—enabling workers to be competitive in the 21st Century—has been a recurrent theme, and as one of the main focuses of the current administration it has received considerable resources and attention.<br/><br/>It was announced that another $474.5 million grant was being added to the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) program to aid in developing the skills infrastructure.<br/><br/>Secretary of Labor Perez, an active proponent of skill development, said this of its impact: <i>“Helping people acquire new skills and access new training programs allows them to climb ladders of opportunity to secure a foothold in the middle class. Building human capital in this way is one key way to accelerate the recovery and unleash the economy’s full potential.”</i><br/><br/>Secretary Perez also saw the implementation of the $24 million Workforce Investment Fund (WIF) <i>Pay For Success</i> grant pilot. This innovative new initiative relies on Social investment Bonds, shifting the initial financial burden to private sector financial investment with government agencies then only paying for trackable and defined outcomes.<br/><br/>Disabled workers have received a much-needed boost ahead of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The finalized rule changes to <a href="http://www.dol.gov/compliance/laws/comp-rehab.htm"><b>Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973</b></a> (promoting better affirmative action hires within government contractors) and an announcement that <a href="http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20131934.htm">almost $10 million in additional funding</a> will be made available for improved employment opportunities for disabled workers are a welcome aid to those disabled workers seeking employment and workforce equality.<br/><br/>New Hampshire’s at-risk 16-24 year old disconnected youth received a lift with the announcement that a Jobs Corps Center will soon be established in that state as a means to provide valuable job training to this unemployed segment of the population.<br/><br/>Having served all sectors of the unemployed spectrum, <b>KRA Corporation</b> applauds policy and program creation that provide services targeted at enhancing the skills and opportunities of all jobseekers—regardless of circumstance—to meet the demands of employers thereby providing a qualified, competitive labor pool.<br/><br/>As always, <b>KRA Corporation</b> remains resolute in our promise to prepare job seekers for tomorrow’s global economy and to supply employers with a trained and reliable workforce. We appreciate the current efforts of all Federal agencies that aid us in this mission, and look forward to future initiatives, policies, and programs that will continue to do so.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-81898608996146811902013-10-11T06:08:00.000-07:002014-03-03T15:37:03.188-08:00Furloughs and Their Extended ImpactsMuch has been written about the recent shutdown by the U.S. Government, including the financial plight and implications of those most affected, but the psychological impact of this action is one that does not prompt the attention it deserves.<br/><br/>This reduced employment cost-saving technique—increasingly popular since the recession’s effects became fully understood—has been utilized in both the public and private sector; and though the effects of furlough might have subtle differences to actual job loss, it still has serious and negative implications.<br/><br/>A recent 2013 <i>Journal of Applied Psychology </i>article, <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/apl/98/3/492"><i>The impact of furloughs on emotional exhaustion, self-rated performance, and recovery experiences</i></a>, explores how furloughs affect the emotive and post-furlough mental state as well as subsequent job performance. Their findings indicated that beyond the stresses of income loss (something that <b>KRA Corporation</b> highlighted in a <a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/unemployment-the-many-effects/">previous post</a>), that a furlough triggers a loss—to varying degrees—of physical, mental, and emotional resources among employees.<br/><br/>The authors’ evidence suggest that a furlough’s effects reach back into the workplace with employees experiencing emotional exhaustion and performance deterioration, including a decreased ability to complete job responsibilities and an increased carelessness with company property.<br/><br/>A Washington Post article, <a href="http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/steps-authentic-happiness-positive-psychology/2013/oct/4/psychological-affects-being-furloughed/"><i>Psychological effects of being furloughed</i></a><i>, </i>asserts that the government furlough: <i>“sends government employees home without a paycheck, job, or an uncertain future, it shakes the foundations of employee confidence to the core. The rug of confidence and peace of mind is yanked out from under them.” </i><br/><br/>Author, Paul Mountjoy, goes on to say: <i>“Loss of quality sleep, anger towards those perceived as having caused the furlough, loss of respect of leadership and loss of external and internal control called ‘locus of control’ in psychology, can affect self-esteem, self-efficacy and doubt not only in the nation’s infrastructure but self-importance as some of the federal government employees are not furloughed as deemed too important to furlough.”</i><br/><br/>Another study, <i>Making Negative a Positive: Furloughs, Family Benefits, and Job Satisfaction</i><b> </b>by researchers Ann Huffman and Lori Muse<b>,</b><b> </b>points to perceived break in the <em>“psychological contract between employer and employee”</em> and increased work overload as the two major negatives that result from a furlough.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.siop.org/Media/News/furlough.aspx">Huffman maintains</a> that: “<i>Furloughs impact job attitudes, morale, and how employees regard management. Resources are needed in both private and public sectors, and they are being taken away, which can be annoying to employees.” </i><b></b><br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> understands the impact that loss of employment, no matter how temporary, has on individuals and families and has spent over 3 decades attempting to get those unemployed workers back into the workplace through designing and implementing innovative and award-winning programs.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation </b>is empathetic<b> </b>to those that are currently unemployed and our team will continue to work, and effect change, for those that are jobless—both through action and policy— to help strengthen communities…one individual resident at a time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838649377916525481.post-8274114112872179122013-10-03T06:04:00.000-07:002014-03-03T15:37:03.192-08:00Disabled Workers Get National Recognition, Increased Federal AidOctober is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Themed <i>"Because We Are EQUAL to the Task” </i>by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the object of the campaign is to acknowledge the <em>abilities</em>---the experience and expertise---that workers with challenging mental and/or physical conditions can contribute to our workforce.<br/><br/>In a September 30, 2013, White House Press Release, President Obama's Proclamation read, "Our Nation has always drawn its strength from the differences of our people, from a vast range of thought, experience, and ability. Every day, Americans with disabilities enrich our communities and businesses. They are leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators, each with unique talents to contribute and points of view to express. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we nurture our culture of diversity and renew our commitment to building an American workforce that offers inclusion and opportunity for all."<br/><br/>DOL has been active ahead of this month’s awareness push. Recently, two finalized rule changes regarding the affirmative action hiring practices of veterans—<a href="http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/fsvevraa.htm"><b>Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974</b></a> (VEVRAA)—and disabled workers—<a href="http://www.dol.gov/compliance/laws/comp-rehab.htm"><b>Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973</b></a>—by Federal contractors and subcontractors (which <b>KRA Corporation</b> recently highlighted <a href="http://www.kra.com/workforce-government/updated-requirements-on-old-acts-help-vets-and-disabled-find-employment/">in a post</a>) were published in the Federal Register for implementation in March of 2014.<br/><br/>ODEP also announced that there will be an award of almost $10 million of extra funds aimed at improving the opportunity for employing people with disabilities. This additional funding will be given to “organizations managing consortia that develop models, provide technical assistance and share best practices to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.”<br/><br/>Labor Secretary Tom Perez, who has dubbed his office as the Department of Opportunity said, “These grants will help better connect people with disabilities with employers who can greatly benefit from their skills and experience."<br/><br/>In another block of grant money aimed at providing education, training and employment opportunities for disabled youth and adults, eight states are set to receive nearly $18 million as part of part of the <a href="http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/DEI.htm">Disability Employment Initiative</a>.<br/><br/>The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, one of three new grantees, will receive the highest award ($3 million) to “build upon American Job Center network's capacity to serve Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities.”<br/><br/>And, as a story of interest, the Smithsonian Institute will be running an exhibit from October through January including photography, paintings, and sculptures created by young artists from 16 to 25 with disabilities.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation</b> has an extensive track record of <a href="http://www.kra.com/about-kra-corporation/other-clients/#health_human">working on a number of initiatives</a> committed to providing information on a wide range of topics, including assistive devices, as well as materials, publications, and other resources relevant to the special needs of disabled Americans. We appreciate the depth of effort it requires to raise awareness, as well as to change perceptions, regarding our neighbors with development and/or physical challenges.<br/><br/><b>KRA Corporation </b>wishes ODEP all the best, not just this month, but each and every every month to come in the new Fiscal Year, and beyond. Their efforts on behalf of people with disabilites in the workforce continue to be an important movement toward equality among workers and equitable treatment throughout the workforce development system.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136456980341404004noreply@blogger.com0