State Workforce Initiatives
GDECD – WORKFORCE DIVISION
• In 2014, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development was
realigned as a division of the Georgia Department of Economic
Development
• This streamlined structure is intended to ensure that the state’s
workforce development efforts are aligned with the economic
realities of the marketplace and what businesses need to succeed in
Georgia.
• The Workforce Division is divided into two subject areas—WIOA
Services and State Initiatives.
• The division receives more than $90M in federal funding from the
USDOL to implement WIOA and manage Georgia’s Workforce
Delivery System across the state.
WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND
OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA)
• WIOA is the nation’s principal workforce development
legislation, providing funds to address the employment
and training needs of dislocated workers, low-income
adults and youth to ultimately help Georgia businesses
meet the needs of today and the future.
• The WIOA Services team is responsible for the
implementation of WIOA throughout the state including
providing guidance and oversight to Georgia’s workforce
system and implementing the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act.
WIOA SERVICES
• Individual Training Accounts (ITAs)
• Work Based Learning
• Customized Training
• Work Experience
• On-the-Job Training
• Incumbent Worker Training
• Youth Services
• Rapid Response
INDIVIDUAL TRAINING ACCOUNTS
• A Training Account on behalf of an eligible WIOA participant
• An ITA is used to “purchase” training services from eligible providers
and training programs selected in consultation with a WIOA career
advisor.
• The Statewide Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) indicates
LWDB and State-approved training providers
• Training providers are held responsible for providing quality training
and outcomes for customers.
WORK-BASED LEARNING
• On-the-Job Training (OJT) provides employers with a 50% wage
reimbursement for eligible newly hired employees during an agreed
upon training period. (up to 75% may be approved in certain
conditions).
• Customized Training (CT) provides employers with up to a 50%
reimbursement for the total cost of training.
• Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) providers employers with up to
reimbursement of certain costs related to training of incumbent
workers in in-demand industry sectors.
• Work Experience (WEX) provides employers with subsidized
employees to assist with operations on a part-time basis.
RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS
• Responsible for mitigating the negative impacts of layoffs affecting
25 or more employees, by connecting impacted employees to
valuable workforce resources and programs.
• Seeks to match laid off workers to employers seeking a readily
available skilled labor supply.
• Offers employers resources to avert layoffs through Incumbent
Worker Training.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
• 17 Meetings in 2014 & 2015
• Atlanta, Dalton, Statesboro, Augusta, Columbus, Warner Robins,
Eastman, Gainesville, Carrollton, Albany, Valdosta, Athens, &
Savannah
• Agriculture & Food, Aerospace, Automotive Manufacturing,
Defense, Film & Entertainment, Healthcare, Information
Technology, Logistics & Transportation, and Manufacturing
STATEWIDE WORKFORCE TRENDS
• Aging Workforce
• Soft Skills
• Basic Educational Skills
• STEM Exposure
• Diversity in STEM Jobs
• Skilled Trades Shortage
• More Work-Based Learning (WBL) Opportunities
INDUSTRIES
• Aerospace
• Agriculture
• Construction
• Defense
• Energy
• Entertainment
• Healthcare
• IT
• Logistics
• Manufacturing
EARLY HDCI SUCCESSES
► Expansion of Strategic Industries Workforce
Development Grant (TCSG)
► Computer Programming = Core Requirement
► Creation of Georgia Film Academy
► Cyber Security Initiative (USG)
► Creation of Georgia WorkSmart
HDCI: PHASE 2
► Statewide task forces uncovering innovative solutions to
the acute workforce gaps identified by HDCI
Currently:
Information Technology
Film, Television, & Digital Entertainment
Logistics
Aerospace
Construction (In Development)
Manufacturing (In Discussion)
HDCI: PHASE 2
► Sector Partnership Grants: regional partners working
collaboratively with business to meet defined industry
sector needs
► $3MM in potential grants/$250,000 per region
► Capacity-building
► Grant review ongoing currently
► Awards announced in May
Harrison Payne
HDCI Program Specialist
Jamie Jordan
HDCI Program Manager
TRADEFIVE
► Georgia’s awareness campaign aimed at addressing the skills gap in
the skilled-trade industries
► Focused on enhancing Georgia’s workforce by educating students,
unemployed, underemployed, and their direct influencers about the
benefits and opportunities within the skilled trades, particularly in five
strategic industries:
► Manufacturing
► Telecommunications
► Energy
► Logistics
► Construction
TRADEFIVE
► TradeFive Foundation – private-sector partnership to support mission
and vision of the program
► Offers students $1,000 scholarships for high-demand career
education
► Offers educators/influencers $500 grants to fund exposure to skilled-
trade careers
► Since launch in 2016:
► 52 grant awards/$26,000
CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH SKILLS
► Langston Hughes High School - Fairburn
► 55 students went on behind-the-scenes tour of Hartsfield-Jackson
► Students witnessed firsthand some of the skilled-trade careers
available at the airport such as aircraft maintenance and control
tower operators
► Warren Technical High School – Atlanta
► Construction Program did not have funding to purchase enough
materials to run a full hands-on training program
► Coordinated a local sponsor (McCarthy Building Companies) to
donate lumber and materials for student use in classroom lab
and for SkillsUSA Georgia competition preparation
► Georgia’s veteran employment initiative designed to connect
transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses with
training opportunities and employers who are committed to serving
Georgia’s heroes.
► The initiative is centered on operationworkforce.com, the online
portal designed to connect Georgia’s veterans with employers and
resources through job postings and services available to service
members throughout Georgia.
► WIOA funding provided for Georgia Tech’s VET2 101
► Online transition course for resume-building/interview training
Five Core Components
Structured
On-the-Job
Learning
Employer
InvolvementRelated
Training and
Instruction
Rewards for
Skill Gains
National
Occupational
Credential
What is registered apprenticeship?
ON-THE-JOB LEARNING
► Job Tasks – Developed with Industry/Employers
► Minimum of 2,000 Hours = One Year of Training
► Over 1,000 Occupations
► Real World Environment
RELATED TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION
► Training Providers:
► Vocational/Technical Schools
► Community Colleges/Universities
► Industry Associations
► Labor Non-Union/Union Organizers
► In-House or Sponsor
► Delivery Methods:
► Classroom
► Correspondence
► Electronic Media/Online
Minimum of 144 Hours Per Year (No Maximum)
6,647 Current Number of Apprentices
1,486
165 Active Programs
New Apprentices FY17 to Date
GEORGIA APPRENTICESHIPS AT-A-GLANCE
REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS IN GEORGIA
REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS IN GEORGIA
REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS IN GEORGIA
► Of those 165 programs…
► 16 are in ECG communities
MOHAWK CASE STUDY
► 50 apprentices in 6 states; began in WV 4 years ago
► USDOL made program national; expanded to GA in 2015
► Mohawk has 26 apprentices in Georgia
► Mechatronics technicians
► Georgia Northwestern Tech = related instruction
► Adjunct instructors/mentors onsite working with apprentices
► Apprentices are paid starting Day 1
► Company pays wages while apprentices are in class
Sponsor Schools:
• Athens Tech
• Atlanta Tech
• Augusta Tech
• Columbus Tech
• GA Northwestern Tech
• Lanier Tech
• Savannah Tech
• West Georgia Tech
American
Apprenticeship
Initiative (AAI)
Grant
Advanced Manufacturing:
• Manufacturing Basics
• Maintenance Technician
• Mechatronics