CTWS Integrated Plan FY2000-2004

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SERVICES TO EMPLOYERS

FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION QUESTIONS 10 - 19

Services to Employers-Labor Market Assessment and Service Planning

Guidelines Pages 49-50 14. Based on the analysis of targeted occupations completed in the Strategic Section, discuss how the Board will provide the connection between employer needs and qualified applicants to fill those needs. Include in your discussion:
a. Specific strategies the Board has developed to provide solutions to employers' labor needs.
b. Formal methods used by the Board to continually assess which specific skills that are needed by area employers. If no such process is currently in place, discuss plans to address this issue.
c. How the labor and skill requirements of area businesses affect planned services to employers.
d. Ways the Board will improve this process over the next five years.

As described in Question #13, demand, emerging, and target occupations are identified with results being confirmed and influenced by application of local wisdom through a Public Hearing forum. Additionally, Question #7 describes the potential electronic, cross-workforce area, Virtual Regional Business Consortia project that is being proposed to the U.S. Department of Labor to identify, develop and support strategies that provide labor solutions to the local Workforce Areas' business customers.
Additional efforts to promote solutions to business customer labor needs are addressed through mediation and promotion of customized training opportunities. Customized training is further supported by partnerships with local Community Colleges that use the Work Keys assessment system to identify and refine labor and skill requirements; the Work Keys system also identifies key competencies used by the local Community Colleges to develop customized training curriculum.
Specific products developed by the Central Texas Workforce System to address businesses' labor needs include adoption of a policy defining basic service levels and opening the way for potential customized service opportunities that were not previously provided through Central Texas Workforce Centers. As described throughout the Central Texas Workforce Integrated Plan, the Central Texas Web Site, www.workforcelink.com; the Taking Care of Business system; and the design and implementation of the centralized Business Services Unit are other products that promote solutions to businesses' labor needs.
To date, business customer requests for customized assistance include but are not limited to the use of facilities and skills/pre-screening assessment. The Business Services Unit staff and input from local business partners, indicate that future services may be expected to include specific, targeted assessments and pre-employment testing; short-term and/or incumbent worker skills upgrades; and/or extensive prescreening to include recruitment, prescreening, interview scheduling and other general human resource functions.

Services to Employers-Labor Market Assessment and Service Planning

Guidelines Pages 49 - 50 15. Discuss the educational and training resources available in the local area that will assist the Board in developing potential employees to meet local employers' needs. Include in your discussion:
a. Whether or not these resources are adequate to meet the educational and training needs of the local area and how this affects the labor exchange process.
b. How the Board will address any deficiencies in educational and training resources.
c. How employers assist the Board in identifying and developing employment activities and/or training programs that address current labor needs.
d. How employers work with the Board to develop Workfare and/or subsidized training slots. If this kind of collaboration does not currently exist, what plans does the Board have for creating such opportunities for employers and, subsequently, job seekers?

Educational and training resources available t assist in the development of employees to meet local business needs include:
31 Independent school districts
3 Community Colleges including:
- Temple College which is active in customized training sponsored by Skills Development Funds including site based and training lab opportunities, and
- Central Texas College which is active in distance learning and involved in some customized training.
Unfortunately, Texas State Technical College, which is renowned for quality training in demand technical occupations, has elected not to respond to the requirements of the Training Provider Certification System. The loss will greatly impact the Central Texas Workforce System's ability to train potentially successful customers in specialized technical areas that have been demonstrated to result in employment at a wage at or above self-sufficiency.
The Central Texas Workforce Area also has one State and one Private University.
At this time no specific training deficiencies in the area are noted. However, training previously supported through Texas State Technical College will be difficult to replace. Possible solutions will be promoting and coordinating other financial assistance for customers interested in Texas State Technical College and/or working with Texas State Technical College and the Texas Workforce Commission to address barriers to applying to be a Certified Training Provider.

Services to Employers-Employer Services

Guidelines Pages 51 - 53 16. Describe the services offered to employers and the role of Center staff in providing these services (e.g., job matching, access to Labor Market Information, skills development for potential/current employees, Smart Jobs, etc.). Cover the following areas in the discussion:
a. Whether any Centers in the local area are specially designated to perform services to employers, and if so, how these Centers contribute to overall workforce development efforts in the local area.
b. How Center staff (including Wagner-Peyser funded staff) coordinates and collaborates to meet the specific needs of employers in the local area and ensures that local and Statewide goals are met.
c. How Center staff collaborates to share information about employer contacts and employer feedback.
d. Efforts to further integrate and coordinate Center partners' provision of employer services.

Business Services are designed to establish and maintain a working relationship between the workforce system and individual businesses within the Central Texas Workforce Area. It is the goal of business services to provide access to the facilities and services on an equitable basis to all businesses, to remain impartial in labor disputes, and to provide labor market information to local businesses without attempting to interpret the law.
With the exception of Veterans services, basic and customized services provided to Central Texas businesses are delivered through the six-person Business Services Unit. The team approach ensures sharing of information between Business Services Unit staff, and the small size of the Unit requires assistance, coordination and assistance from staff providing employment and core services to job seekers. The Business Services Unit is located in the Temple, 37th Street facility, but through the technology-supported outside and inside sales approach, the team provides services to all businesses in the local Workforce Area.
Specialized services including but not limited to subsidized and unsubsidized work experience sites, work site development, etc. are supported by specialized program staff, for example, youth program or public assistance work program staff (Welfare to Work, TANF Choices, and Food Stamp Employment and Training). The Central Texas Workforce System uses staff meetings and common communication technology to coordinate business needs and services with Workforce Center staff including the Business Services Unit; public assistance work programs' staff; core, intensive, and training level job seeker staff; workforce system partners, and partner staff in the Killeen Workforce Center Business Resource room. As described throughout the Central Texas Workforce Integrated Plan, examples of common technology include, but are not limited, to a Wide Area Network, the Taking Care of Business database, single telecommunications system, and a common e-mail system.
At this time, the Business Services Unit is made up of staff are a combination of Wagner Peyser Employment Services staff and Workforce Center Contractor staff. Future efforts to coordinate activities include inclusion of Veterans services staff and other Workforce System partners as appropriate on the Business Services Unit. Additionally, connectivity between TcoB and Texas Hires will be pursued.
Assistance to business customers by the Central Texas Workforce System reflect a menu of services options including:
- Assistance to businesses, as needed, in entering job orders in the JSMS, in applicant matching, and in preliminary screening of applicants. Staff will also assist in locating appropriate labor market information desired by businesses.
- State Labor Laws, in the form of hard-copy publications and/or Internet accessibility to the TWC or Central Texas Workforce System Web Sites, are available in Workforce Centers in Temple, Killeen, Lampasas, Copperas Cove, Rockdale, and Cameron
- Labor market information regarding market conditions and legislation affecting employment;
- Reverse referral agreements (staff screens all job seekers before they contact the employer; in return, the employer agrees to list all job openings with workforce system);
- Prompt referrals of the best qualified applicants to fill job openings posted by businesses;
- Business services/facilities/technology and services to businesses during the recruitment period;
- Toll free telephone number for use by employers in outlying areas in contacting the Central Texas Workforce System; and
- Customized services that respond to the individual needs and problems of local employers by providing appropriate services.

Services to Employers-Employer Services

Guidelines Pages 51 - 53 17. Describe the network available to employers to allow them maximum access to qualified job seekers. Include in your discussion:
a. How automated systems such as TWIST and the State's job matching system are used to facilitate meeting employers' needs, including a description of how job orders are handled.
b. How the interstate and intrastate labor exchange processes are facilitated in the local area.
c. Additional services in the Center(s) that are available to employers.

Technology supporting maximum access to qualified job seekers includes the Texas Hires system, the local Taking Care of Business database, and the Central Texas Workforce System Web Site, www.workforcelink.com that includes links to all local, state and national public and private job banks.
The match between jobseekers and businesses is supported by the State's Internet-based Job Service Matching System (JSMS). The JSMS system supplements the existing state job matching system and allows greater flexibility in providing services system. The process begins by entering a job seeker application into the job matching system for the purpose of matching the job seeker's skills, interests, and education into the computer using a structured system of occupational key words. Likewise, the business' job order is entered into the computer using key descriptive terms. Staff assures that sufficient information is documented on both the job seeker's application and on the business' job order to facilitate the selection and referral of the job seeker to an appropriate job. The process results in a job match list of potentially qualified applicants, and each day Workforce System staff contact each of the potential job applicants. Applicant qualifications are reviewed and information about the job is provided prior to making formal referral to the business customer.
Business customers can also request that their job openings be listed in the JSMS. Job applicants are referred depending on the service level requested by the business customer. Business customers receive same-day referrals of customers who access the JSMS system or next-day referrals of customers who matched on the job order.
Central Texas' Internet based Taking Care of Business customer management database also supports match of local job orders with locally posted resumes. The system promotes self-service entry of job order by local employers and resumes by local job seekers. Customers also have the ability to scan potential applicants and/or job orders by key word and to perform applicant/job order matches. Customers using the Taking Care of Business system can also submit e-mail responses to jobseekers whose resumes match local job postings. Job seekers also have the ability to e-mail resumes directly to local employers.
Central Texas Workforce System business services include self-service, facilitated, and staff-assistance service opportunities. Specific business services available in local Workforce Centers includes, but are not limited to, access to facilities for recruiting, prescreening and interviewing. A Business Resource Room is also available to provide information and technology services to local businesses in the Killeen Workforce Center, and a Business Incubator Center is available through partnership with Temple College for business customers of the Temple Workforce Center.

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SERVICES TO EMPLOYERS FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION QUESTIONS 10 - 19
Services to Employers-Labor Market Assessment and Service Planning
Guidelines Pages 49-50	14. Based on the analysis of targeted occupations completed in the Strategic Section, discuss how the Board will provide the connection between employer needs and qualified applicants to fill those needs. Include in your discussion: a. Specific strategies the Board has developed to provide solutions to employers' labor needs. b. Formal methods used by the Board to continually assess which specific skills that are needed by area employers. If no such process is currently in place, discuss plans to address this issue. c. How the labor and skill requirements of area businesses affect planned services to employers. d. Ways the Board will improve this process over the next five years.
As described in Question #13, demand, emerging, and target occupations are identified with results being confirmed and influenced by application of local wisdom through a Public Hearing forum. Additionally, Question #7 describes the potential electronic, cross-workforce area, Virtual Regional Business Consortia project that is being proposed to the U.S. Department of Labor to identify, develop and support strategies that provide labor solutions to the local Workforce Areas' business customers. Additional efforts to promote solutions to business customer labor needs are addressed through mediation and promotion of customized training opportunities. Customized training is further supported by partnerships with local Community Colleges that use the Work Keys assessment system to identify and refine labor and skill requirements; the Work Keys system also identifies key competencies used by the local Community Colleges to develop customized training curriculum. Specific products developed by the Central Texas Workforce System to address businesses' labor needs include adoption of a policy defining basic service levels and opening the way for potential customized service opportunities that were not previously provided through Central Texas Workforce Centers. As described throughout the Central Texas Workforce Integrated Plan, the Central Texas Web Site, www.workforcelink.com; the Taking Care of Business system; and the design and implementation of the centralized Business Services Unit are other products that promote solutions to businesses' labor needs. To date, business customer requests for customized assistance include but are not limited to the use of facilities and skills/pre-screening assessment. The Business Services Unit staff and input from local business partners, indicate that future services may be expected to include specific, targeted assessments and pre-employment testing; short-term and/or incumbent worker skills upgrades; and/or extensive prescreening to include recruitment, prescreening, interview scheduling and other general human resource functions.

Services to Employers-Labor Market Assessment and Service Planning
Guidelines Pages 49 - 50	15. Discuss the educational and training resources available in the local area that will assist the Board in developing potential employees to meet local employers' needs. Include in your discussion: a. Whether or not these resources are adequate to meet the educational and training needs of the local area and how this affects the labor exchange process. b. How the Board will address any deficiencies in educational and training resources. c. How employers assist the Board in identifying and developing employment activities and/or training programs that address current labor needs. d. How employers work with the Board to develop Workfare and/or subsidized training slots. If this kind of collaboration does not currently exist, what plans does the Board have for creating such opportunities for employers and, subsequently, job seekers?
Educational and training resources available t assist in the development of employees to meet local business needs include: 31 Independent school districts 3 Community Colleges including: - Temple College which is active in customized training sponsored by Skills Development Funds including site based and training lab opportunities, and - Central Texas College which is active in distance learning and involved in some customized training. Unfortunately, Texas State Technical College, which is renowned for quality training in demand technical occupations, has elected not to respond to the requirements of the Training Provider Certification System. The loss will greatly impact the Central Texas Workforce System's ability to train potentially successful customers in specialized technical areas that have been demonstrated to result in employment at a wage at or above self-sufficiency. The Central Texas Workforce Area also has one State and one Private University. At this time no specific training deficiencies in the area are noted. However, training previously supported through Texas State Technical College will be difficult to replace. Possible solutions will be promoting and coordinating other financial assistance for customers interested in Texas State Technical College and/or working with Texas State Technical College and the Texas Workforce Commission to address barriers to applying to be a Certified Training Provider.

Services to Employers-Employer Services
Guidelines Pages 51 - 53	16. Describe the services offered to employers and the role of Center staff in providing these services (e.g., job matching, access to Labor Market Information, skills development for potential/current employees, Smart Jobs, etc.). Cover the following areas in the discussion: a. Whether any Centers in the local area are specially designated to perform services to employers, and if so, how these Centers contribute to overall workforce development efforts in the local area. b. How Center staff (including Wagner-Peyser funded staff) coordinates and collaborates to meet the specific needs of employers in the local area and ensures that local and Statewide goals are met. c. How Center staff collaborates to share information about employer contacts and employer feedback. d. Efforts to further integrate and coordinate Center partners' provision of employer services.
Business Services are designed to establish and maintain a working relationship between the workforce system and individual businesses within the Central Texas Workforce Area. It is the goal of business services to provide access to the facilities and services on an equitable basis to all businesses, to remain impartial in labor disputes, and to provide labor market information to local businesses without attempting to interpret the law. With the exception of Veterans services, basic and customized services provided to Central Texas businesses are delivered through the six-person Business Services Unit. The team approach ensures sharing of information between Business Services Unit staff, and the small size of the Unit requires assistance, coordination and assistance from staff providing employment and core services to job seekers. The Business Services Unit is located in the Temple, 37th Street facility, but through the technology-supported outside and inside sales approach, the team provides services to all businesses in the local Workforce Area. Specialized services including but not limited to subsidized and unsubsidized work experience sites, work site development, etc. are supported by specialized program staff, for example, youth program or public assistance work program staff (Welfare to Work, TANF Choices, and Food Stamp Employment and Training). The Central Texas Workforce System uses staff meetings and common communication technology to coordinate business needs and services with Workforce Center staff including the Business Services Unit; public assistance work programs' staff; core, intensive, and training level job seeker staff; workforce system partners, and partner staff in the Killeen Workforce Center Business Resource room. As described throughout the Central Texas Workforce Integrated Plan, examples of common technology include, but are not limited, to a Wide Area Network, the Taking Care of Business database, single telecommunications system, and a common e-mail system. At this time, the Business Services Unit is made up of staff are a combination of Wagner Peyser Employment Services staff and Workforce Center Contractor staff. Future efforts to coordinate activities include inclusion of Veterans services staff and other Workforce System partners as appropriate on the Business Services Unit. Additionally, connectivity between TcoB and Texas Hires will be pursued. Assistance to business customers by the Central Texas Workforce System reflect a menu of services options including: - Assistance to businesses, as needed, in entering job orders in the JSMS, in applicant matching, and in preliminary screening of applicants. Staff will also assist in locating appropriate labor market information desired by businesses. - State Labor Laws, in the form of hard-copy publications and/or Internet accessibility to the TWC or Central Texas Workforce System Web Sites, are available in Workforce Centers in Temple, Killeen, Lampasas, Copperas Cove, Rockdale, and Cameron - Labor market information regarding market conditions and legislation affecting employment; - Reverse referral agreements (staff screens all job seekers before they contact the employer; in return, the employer agrees to list all job openings with workforce system); - Prompt referrals of the best qualified applicants to fill job openings posted by businesses; - Business services/facilities/technology and services to businesses during the recruitment period; - Toll free telephone number for use by employers in outlying areas in contacting the Central Texas Workforce System; and - Customized services that respond to the individual needs and problems of local employers by providing appropriate services.

Services to Employers-Employer Services
Guidelines Pages 51 - 53	17. Describe the network available to employers to allow them maximum access to qualified job seekers. Include in your discussion: a. How automated systems such as TWIST and the State's job matching system are used to facilitate meeting employers' needs, including a description of how job orders are handled. b. How the interstate and intrastate labor exchange processes are facilitated in the local area. c. Additional services in the Center(s) that are available to employers.
Technology supporting maximum access to qualified job seekers includes the Texas Hires system, the local Taking Care of Business database, and the Central Texas Workforce System Web Site, www.workforcelink.com that includes links to all local, state and national public and private job banks. The match between jobseekers and businesses is supported by the State's Internet-based Job Service Matching System (JSMS). The JSMS system supplements the existing state job matching system and allows greater flexibility in providing services system. The process begins by entering a job seeker application into the job matching system for the purpose of matching the job seeker's skills, interests, and education into the computer using a structured system of occupational key words. Likewise, the business' job order is entered into the computer using key descriptive terms. Staff assures that sufficient information is documented on both the job seeker's application and on the business' job order to facilitate the selection and referral of the job seeker to an appropriate job. The process results in a job match list of potentially qualified applicants, and each day Workforce System staff contact each of the potential job applicants. Applicant qualifications are reviewed and information about the job is provided prior to making formal referral to the business customer. Business customers can also request that their job openings be listed in the JSMS. Job applicants are referred depending on the service level requested by the business customer. Business customers receive same-day referrals of customers who access the JSMS system or next-day referrals of customers who matched on the job order. Central Texas' Internet based Taking Care of Business customer management database also supports match of local job orders with locally posted resumes. The system promotes self-service entry of job order by local employers and resumes by local job seekers. Customers also have the ability to scan potential applicants and/or job orders by key word and to perform applicant/job order matches. Customers using the Taking Care of Business system can also submit e-mail responses to jobseekers whose resumes match local job postings. Job seekers also have the ability to e-mail resumes directly to local employers. Central Texas Workforce System business services include self-service, facilitated, and staff-assistance service opportunities. Specific business services available in local Workforce Centers includes, but are not limited to, access to facilities for recruiting, prescreening and interviewing. A Business Resource Room is also available to provide information and technology services to local businesses in the Killeen Workforce Center, and a Business Incubator Center is available through partnership with Temple College for business customers of the Temple Workforce Center.