Workforce Development in Peoria, Illinois

2008-07-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

BEA produces some of the most closely watched economic statistics that influence decisions of government officials, business people, and individuals. These statistics provide a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the U.S. economy. The data on are drawn from featured BEA economic accounts.

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To learn more go to: http://bea.gov/newsreleases/glance.htm

Social Security Verification Upgrade

2008-06-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify is currently free to employers and is available in all 50 states. E-Verify provides an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.

To register or learn more go to: www.uscis.gov/E-Verify

Skilled Worker Shortage Report

2008-06-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

ATS recently released a report highlighting the impact of the pending worker shortage. This is not just a Central Illinois issue - but we could become leaders in finding a solution.

ATS Survey

Goldman Sachs - BRIC Report - Amazing!

2008-05-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

Goldman Sachs, a global investment firm, has spent considerable resources developing a report about what countries will dominate the global economy. Some of the report is almost five years old but still holds relevant information. The question is - What can Central Illinois to capitalize on the new markets?

(excerpt from Goldman Sachs web page)
The results are startling. If things go right, in less than 40 years, the BRICs (BRIC - an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies together could be larger than the G6 in US dollar terms. By 2025 they could account for over half the size of the G6. Of the current G6, only the US and Japan may be among the six largest economies in US dollar terms in 2050. The list of the world's ten largest economies may look quite different in 2050. The largest economies in the world (by GDP) may no longer be the richest (by income per capita), making strategic choices for firms more complex.

To learn more go to: http://www2.goldmansachs.com/ideas/brics/index.html

Around the World in Eight Charts

2008-05-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has put together a great report comparing/contrasting the U.S. to other countries. The first report highlights youth unemployment rates. I think it would be great if the U.S. and/or Peoria focused more on developing apprecenticeship programs. The report covers other topics too.

BLS provides information on employment, unemployment, productivity, compensation costs, and other labor-related measures for countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia and the Pacific.

http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/

Employment Trend: Intern First, Then Full-Time Hire

2008-04-28T07:19:00.000-07:00

Increasingly, employers are looking to their internship programs to find new employees, according to results of a new survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Results of NACE’s 2008 Experiential Education Survey show that emphasis on hiring from the intern program is growing. Employers reported that nearly 36 percent of the new college graduates they hired from the Class of 2007 came from their own internship programs, up from 30 percent from the Class of 2005.

In addition, “more interns are getting offers of full-time employment,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. “Currently, employers say they extended job offers to nearly 70 percent of their interns; in 2001, they offered jobs to 57 percent.”

The trend toward using the internship program to feed hiring is fueled, in part, by employer satisfaction with interns and internship programs. “Nearly 90 percent of employers who use their programs to hire say they are very or extremely satisfied with their interns, and employers consistently name the internship program as one of the most effective tools they have for hiring new college graduates,” says Mackes. “Employers see results with these programs.”
Survey findings also indicate that interns who become full-time hires are more likely to stick with the organization than their co-workers who didn’t go through the program: More than one-third of employers (37.3 percent) reported higher retention among those converted from intern to employee within the first year of hire, and nearly half (48.8 percent) said former interns had higher retention five years after hire.

Not surprisingly, employers expect to add to their intern numbers this year: Respondents project a 3.7 percent increase in the number of interns they bring on in 2007-08, building their pool of potential full-time hires for next year.

About the NACE 2008 Experiential Education Survey: The NACE 2008 Experiential Education Survey was conducted from November 21, 2007, through January 11, 2008. Surveys were provided to 1,189 NACE employers members; 311, or 26.2 percent, responded. www.naceweb.org

Peoria County, Illinois 2006 Workforce Article

2008-04-28T07:14:00.000-07:00

Contributed by Matt

In Peoria County, Illinois, the total employment throughout all industries has increased by 3.5%, or 3,475 jobs, from 2001 to 2006. From the 140 3-digit NAICS industries, 21 did not experience any change, 55 reported job growth in the duration of the last five years, and 64 industry sectors reported declines during the time period.

Of the industries (3-digit NAICS) in the area, the Professional and technical services industry has brought the most jobs with a total of 7,570 total jobs brought in during the period. The growth in Professional and technical services makes up
3.8% percent of the growth in Peoria County, Illinois.

Top Growing Industries:
1. Professional and technical services (7,570 new jobs)
2. Executive, legislative and general government (2,313 new jobs)
3. Credit intermediation and related activities (1,608 new jobs)
4. Hospitals (1,357 new jobs)
5. Administrative and support services (671 new jobs)

From of the area's 3-digit NAICS industries, the Food services and drinking places industry faced the greatest employment loss with a total loss of 1011 jobs. The declines in Food services and drinking places makes up 2.9% percent of the total job loss in Peoria County, Illinois.

Top Declining Industries:
1. Food services and drinking places (1011 jobs lost)
2. Postal service (636 jobs lost)
3. Nursing and residential care facilities (386 jobs lost)
4. Support activities for transportation (273 jobs lost)
5. Fabricated metal product manufacturing (233 jobs lost)

eCanned - The Economy in a Can
http://www.ecanned.com/V2

Trade Assistance Adjustment for Firms

2008-04-03T06:33:00.000-07:00

What is Trade Adjustment Assistance?
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a U.S. Department of Commerce program designed for manufacturers adversely affected by imports. This program offers 50/50 cost sharing of projects aimed at improving a firm's competitive position, up to a total of $150,000 in projects with a maximum TAA cost share of $75,000. The amount the program can costshare is dependent upon the demand on program, funding level and company size and sales. Funds are applied toward the cost of consultants, engineers, or other outside professional service providers a firm chooses to implement projects such as:

MANUFACTURING

ISO/QS 9000 Preparation & Registration
Quality Assurance
Product Development, Design & Testing
Product Certification (CE Mark, UL etc)
Operations Analysis
Manufacturing Technology Review
Productivity Improvement
Process Engineering
CAD/CAM Selection & Implementation

MARKETING

Market Research
Marketing & Sales Strategy
Advertising/Sales Promotion/Brochure Design
Web Site Design
Distribution Analysis & Development
Distributor & Sales Representative Search
Export Development

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Hardware/Software
System Conversion & Enhancements
Custom Programming
Integrated Manufacturing Systems
E-Commerce

FINANCIAL AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT

Profit Planning/Cash Management/Budgeting
Debt Restructuring
Cost Management
Quality Management
Strategic Planning
Expansion, Diversification & Executive Search
Succession Planning

What are the eligibility requirements for Trade Adjustment Assistance?

To qualify, a manufacturing firm must have lost some domestic business to imports, and experienced sales and employment declines over the last two years.

How does a firm apply?

Interested firms should contact their local Trade Adjustment Center (TAAC) to get started. A TAAC professional will initially assess the eligibility and prepare an application on a firm's behalf. To find the nearest TAAC and more information, visit www.taacenters.og

Workforce Development gets $2 million grant

2008-03-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

PEORIA - The U.S. Department of Labor awarded a $2 million grant last week to Peoria's Workforce Development office that's expected to help bridge the area's health care gap.
As a growing medical center, the Peoria area is expected to add more than 4,000 health care jobs over the next six years. The resulting worker shortage, particularly among technicians, medical assistants and nurses, calls for increased training, noted Workforce officials.
The Central Illinois Health Care Community Job Training Grant will provide training for 120 people who will receive an associate's or master's degree through the program or move from being a licensed practical nurse to a registered nurse.

The Peoria award was one of 69 grants announced across the nation as part of the Bush Administration's $125 million community-based job-training program.

"The Peoria grant is designed to improve the ability of community colleges to provide workers with the skills needed to compete in the workplace," said Jennifer Kaplan, a Labor Department spokeswoman speaking from her office in Washington, D.C. "The basic idea here is to provide as much education for the workforce as possible."

Workforce will annouce how individuals may apply for the grant money in the near future.

Spring 2008 Career Fair

2008-03-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

Careers 2008!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm

Location: Northwoods Mall

Workforce Development in conjuncntion with the Journal Star (http://www.pjstar.com/) and Northwoods Mall (http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=188) are offering the areas best job fair. The event allows area businesses access to job seekers from across the Central Illinois Region.

Businesses that would like to learn more may contact Ben Brewster, bbrewster@workforcenetwork.com or 309-495-8931.

Participating businesses include:

Addus Health Care
Advanced Quality Solutions
Affina
B. Moss
Brickford House & Brickford Cottage
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Caterpillar
CDL Training
Christopher Banks
City of Peoria, 911 Dispatcher
City of Peoria, Fire Department
City of Peoria, Police
Comcast
County of Peoria
Evonik Goldschmidt Corp
Excel Foundry
Express Employment Professions
Graham Hospital
Hotel Pere Marquette
Illinois Air National Guard
Illinois Welding School
Job Corps
Journal Star
Kay Jewelers
Lutheran Hillside Village
Macy's
Manpower
Marquette Group
MetLife
Midstate College
Morton Welding Co.
New Horizons
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
Par-a-dice Hotel & Casino
Pekin Insurance
Primerica Financial Services
Progressive Housing Inc.
Riverview Health & Care Center
Trade Home Shoe
Trillium Staffing
Trinity Services
Uftring Autogroup
Washington Division of URS
Workforce Network
Xpac

State of Working Illinois Report

2008-03-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

The 2007 State of Working Illinois Report is an honest, comprehensive review and forecast of the Illinois economy. The report was produced by:
1. The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability
2. Office for Social Policy Research, Northern Illinois University
3. Center for Government Studies, Northern Illinois Univserity

To review the executive summary and complete report go to:
http://www.stateofworkingillinois.niu.edu/swil/index.html