Workforce Developments: April 2010
April 2010 | Governor Mitch DanielsIn this issue..
- Governor Expands Reach of Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps
- DWD Offers FREE ONLINE Training Classes
- Legislative Update
- Understanding the Impact of the Auto Industry in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio:
Identifying Green Jobs for Auto Workers - Twenty-six Years of Excellence
- Notes from the Commissioner
Governor Expands Reach of Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps
Governor Mitch Daniels said today applications for the second year of the successful Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps (YHCC) are now being accepted. In addition to work at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) locations, the program will be expanded to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) this summer.
Participants who work with DNR may revitalize historic buildings, create and rehabilitate trails and restore natural habitat areas. Participants employed at INDOT facilities may work in emergency cleanup, maintenance of traffic signs, equipment refurbishing and beautification of Indiana’s highway rest areas and interchanges.
“Last year’s 2,000 Corps members made major, lasting improvements to our parks and environment, while preparing themselves better for lives of productive work,” said Daniels. “The results surpassed our expectations and more than justified the program’s renewal this year.”
YHCC will expand to include positions at more than 30 INDOT and 80 DNR locations. The program will also include hiring and training youth supervisors. Those hired will be offered higher wages and additional training to help prepare them for management positions later in life.
Daniels created YHCC in 2009 using federal stimulus funds available for summer employment and training to young Hoosiers. In 2009, YHCC participants:
· Renovated 380 buildings and 50 historic buildings
· Created 30 miles of new trails
· Rehabilitated 500 miles of existing trails
· Restored 4,700 acres of natural habitat
YHCC will provide opportunities to approximately 2,000 Hoosiers ages 18 to 24. The positions pay $8.50 per hour and last approximately 16 weeks. YHCC youth supervisors will work 18-24 weeks and earn $9.50 per hour. All positions will begin no earlier than May 3 and are scheduled to end October 2.
Interested Hoosiers can begin applying immediately at www.in.gov/yhcc.
The state is using about $12 million of federal stimulus funds allocated through the Workforce Investment Act for this program. This is a 91-county program. Under federal law, Marion County qualifies to use its portion of this funding on a separate summer jobs program.
DWD Offers FREE ONLINE Training Classes
Hoosiers looking to improve their job skills can now take advantage of free online training through a limited time offer by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). Access to these free online training courses is open to all Hoosiers. Governmental and not-for-profit organizations can sign up for multiple licenses to benefit their employees.
Participants can choose from 750 free eLearning courses through MindLeaders®. Courses range from:
- Desktop Computing
- PC Basics
- Project Management
- Human Resources
- Communication Skills
- Conflict Resolution
MindLeaders® courses are web based - no CDs or lengthy downloads required. This means you and your employees can access any of the online training programs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
In order to qualify for this free training, people must finish their course prior to June 30, 2010. To sign up for a free training license, visit www.in.gov/dwd/elearning
Legislative Update
On March 12, the legislature concluded the 2010 “short session” but not before passing legislation important to the department. We have reported to you in previous newsletters about the legislative initiatives that the department was watching, most notably Senate Enrolled Act 23. The act delayed, by one year, the tax changes that had been scheduled the previous year in House Enrolled Act 1379, and also brought Indiana’s unemployment insurance law back in line with federal law.
The legislature reached a consensus that the economy has not yet recovered to a point where employers can afford a rate increase without further harming employment in our state. The department supported the one year delay, and participated in the process up to the final days of session. Though the retroactive change in law has required many in the department to act quickly, the department’s communication with the legislature allowed us to be prepared for the changes in law. Rate notices based on the new law have already been mailed to each employer in the state.
The insolvency of the trust fund remains a problem, and legislative action to address the growing deficit is likely to remain a hot topic for the General Assembly in coming years. The department will continue to be involved in providing the legislature with the information necessary to make the difficult decisions required to put the fund back on stable footing.
Understanding the Impact of the Auto Industry in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio:
Identifying Green Jobs for Auto Workers
The auto industry is experiencing a transformation influenced by the overall global economic downturn, demand for more fuel efficient vehicles and new regulatory demands on the industry. As a result, employment has declined in states that have high concentrations of automotive manufacturing jobs such as Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
Since 1998, automotive industry employment has declined in Michigan by 62.6%, in Ohio by 48.7% and 37.2% in Indiana. In order for the industry to survive and satisfy customer demand, it must produce green vehicles that are efficient and use renewable energy. Currently there is a limited understanding of how to transform the industry and prepare workers with the skills to meet these demands and those of other green career opportunities.
Approximately 70% of workers in manufacturing have a high school diploma or less and are not prepared to compete for current job opportunities in high-growth and high-demand green industries. In order for Michigan, Indiana and Ohio to more effectively serve these large numbers of dislocated auto workers and those that are at-risk of losing their jobs, Indiana received a $4 million grant to study four specific areas:
- Auto Industry Transformation: Characterize the structural transformation from the “old” auto industry to a “new” more efficient auto industry and identify new skill and training requirements.
- Supply Chain Transformation: Identify the auto parts supply chain impacts of an auto industry structural transformation.
- Alternative Career Pathways: Identify alternative career path opportunities for dislocated auto and auto parts workers for jobs in demand with an emphasis on jobs in the green economy.
- Skill Gap Analysis: Identify current and projected skill gaps of the auto and auto parts workforce and required training needed to compete for jobs in demand and green job opportunities.
Research on the auto industry transformation and identification of green career pathways for the auto workforce will be conducted by state labor market information departments in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio along with their research partners: Indiana Business Research Center, Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) and the Center for Automotive Research (Michigan). A final report will be released in May 2011. For more information on the grant, please visit: http://www.ibrc.indiana.edu/miinoh/
Twenty-Six Years of Excellence
The State of Indiana recognized outstanding career and technical education students, programs and personnel at the 26th Indiana Career and Technical Education Awards for Excellence ceremony. The program recognizes students, programs, guidance/personnel services and active partnerships that contribute to high quality career and technical education in Indiana.
Award nominations were solicited from across the state. Committees of career and technical education educators and private sector representatives screened the nominations. A final selection committee was used to further review and recommend awards.
The luncheon featured speaker Matt Fleck, Secondary Career & Technical Education State Director with the Indiana Department of Education and the Vincennes University Percussion Ensemble. They performed an innovating and entertaining percussion piece.
Chris Guidry, Director of Career and Technical Education at the Indiana Department of Workforce Development made opening remarks, and Diane Willis of Lee/Willis Communications introduced the awards recipients.
Guidry said, “It was both wonderful and amazing to see such a high level of commitment behind what is happening in the area of career & technical education. There are a number of very exciting things going on throughout the state and today was just a snapshot of those activities and accomplishments.”
This year’s award recipients are:
| Name | School | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Students | ||
| Walter Bender III | McKenzie Career Center | Advanced Interactive Media |
| Brittany Bowman | New Castle Area Career Programs |
Pre-Engineering |
| Elisabeth Dick | New Castle Area Career Programs |
Health Careers |
| Camille Drake | Area 31 Career Programs at Ben Davis | Business Co-op |
| Andrew Dunlap | McKenzie Career Center | A+, Net+ and Linux+ |
| Abel Everage | Southeastern Career Center | Welding Technology |
| Andrew Gates | Elkhart Area Career Center | Emergency Medical Services |
| Rebecca Gramer | Area 31 Career Programs at Ben Davis | IT-Web Design |
| Rebekah Hale | New Castle Area Career Programs |
Health Careers |
| Christina Hall | Area 31 Career Programs at Ben Davis | Computerized Accounting |
| Hallie Kaiser | Area 31 Career Programs at Ben Davis | Business Co-op |
| Kylie King | Area 31 Career Programs at Ben Davis | IT- Web Design |
| Ashley Lacy | New Castle Area Career Programs |
Health Careers |
| Michael McAllister | New Castle Area Career Programs |
Health Careers |
| Kayla McCoy | Area 31 Career Programs at Ben Davis | IT- Web Design |
| Postsecondary Students | ||
| Allen Ahner | Vincennes University | Web Development |
| Megan Arnold | Vincennes University | Multimedia Com/Mgt Tech |
| Benjamin Carmack | Vincennes University | Surveying Technology |
| Cathy Clardy | Ivy Tech Community College - Gary | Business Management |
| Brian Flenar | Vincennes University | Advanced Manufacturing |
| Caitlyn Helton | Ivy Tech Community College - Terre Haute | Elementary Education |
| Donna Lutes | Ivy Tech Community College - Richmond | Medical Assisting |
| Scott Marks | Vincennes University | Aviation Maintenance Technology |
| Katrina Quillen | Vincennes University | Paralegal |
| Cynthia Sciscoe | Ivy Tech Community College - Bloomington | Office Administration |
| Hanna Sparrow | Vincennes University | Aviation Flight Technology |
| Michael Weisman | Vincennes University | Advanced Manufacturing |
| Guidance/Career Services | ||
| Washington Township Middle/High School Guidance Dept. | Porter County Career & Technical Education |
|
| Secondary Programs | ||
| Academy of Cosmetology | Walker Career Center | |
| Emergency Services Fire Fighting Program | J. Everett Light Career Center |
|
| Law Enforcement | Indiana Trails Career Cooperative |
|
| Postsecondary Programs | ||
| Drafting & Design | Vincennes University | |
| Electronics Tech/Computer Networking Spec. | Vincennes University | |
| Surgical Tech | Ivy Tech Community College - Gary | |
| Partnerships | ||
| Health Careers Primary Partnership at Crawfordsville |
||
| Manufacturing Partnership for Career Opportunities | ||
| Ivy Tech Community College, Kokomo Region and Bona Vista | ||
| Outstanding Contributor | ||
| Dr. Suellen Reed |
Greetings!
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development has no greater responsibility than management of Indiana’s unemployment insurance system. Over the last few years, DWD has taken multiple steps to improve the delivery of unemployment benefits to eligible Hoosiers. Indiana’s modern unemployment system today delivers benefits to eligible individuals within 24 hours rather than weeks of processing and the mailing of paper checks.
In addition to serving eligible Hoosiers, this month DWD is launching a new initiative to combat fraud and waste in our system. Two new tools are now available to help companies protest claims of ineligible individuals and report fraud to our team of investigators.
Companies across Indiana will soon receive the new “Employer Protest Form” (Form 640P). This simple form will help the department ensure only those eligible collect unemployment. Reasons a company should protest an individual’s claim include: they voluntarily quit, were fired for cause or misconduct, or never worked for their company. Employers can find this protest form in the employer section of our website, along with instructions for filing a timely protest.
The other new tool is the new Fraud Reporting page of our website. This simple online form can be used by employers or individuals who wish to report someone who is wrongfully receiving benefits. Tipsters can remain anonymous, if they wish. To report unemployment fraud using this new online tool, visit www.in.gov/dwd/fraud.
DWD has the responsibility to ensure that only eligible Hoosiers receive benefits. When an ineligible person collects benefits, it costs Hoosier businesses in the form of higher unemployment taxes.
Whether through intentional fraud or a simple employer protest, together we have a responsibility to make sure each of our unemployment tax dollars is only being used to benefit someone eligible to receive them. As Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development, you can count on our team to continually seek ways to protect the integrity of Indiana’s unemployment insurance system.
Best,
Teresa
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