There are 400,000 IT jobs that are presently unfilled. This is due to skilled workers not getting directed to employers that need them and/or the possibility that there are too few skilled individuals to meet these jobs. Aside from those out of work, there are also incumbent workers who need to update their skills to add more value to their employers and build a stronger career for themselves.
IT relies on a pipeline of smart, skilled and capable people to drive the industry, and WIA helps move the pipeline and advance skills training.
Enacted in 1998, WIA brings business, government and workforce representatives to the table to participate in putting people to work strategically. The principal vehicles for this effort are WIBs which are chaired by private sector members of the local community. Over the years, millions of Americans have gone through WIB-sponsored One Stop Centers to find jobs or identify career training that places them in jobs.
In previous postings, I have written that Congress is seeking to pass legislation to reauthorize WIA. On Tuesday, I attended the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) annual conference and heard from an excellent panel of Senate staffers that are working to draft and pass the reauthorization language. While the legislation is not available for review, they shared some information:
- Since late 2009 a bipartisan group of senators from the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) – Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) – have been working to draft legislation.
- This group is very near to introducing a bill that first is being circulated to committee members and staff for review. Four of the five titles have been drafted and shared to date. The fifth title on vocational rehabilitation should be circulated soon. The Administration also has reviewed the effort to date to provide input on what is practical or impractical to implement.
- Overall, the emphasis of the bill is to enhance the original act by improving local flexibility and coordination among the job training, adult training, vocational rehabilitation and education constituencies under WIA.
- The bill has a new Title I on governance that streamlines and advances state and local planning and emphasizes common programs. It also features new “Workforce Innovation Grants” that will be funded only if the dollars appropriated to WIA are in excess of FY10 amounts and will not count against formula dollars.
- There is increased attention to incumbent workers, however, we do not know the details yet.
- The HELP committee has two major priorities: reauthorization of ESEA (“No Child Left Behind) and WIA. It is conceivable that WIA reauthorization could pass the chamber this year. In the House, Chairman Kline is aware of this effort, and it was noted that the presence of Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) on the relevant committee bodes well for the legislation as the Congressman has a close working relationship with Senator Enzi.
We will share more information as it becomes available.
