In the global economy, workforce systems are continually challenged to identify the critical core competencies that Board and One-Stop staff need to effectively function in the flat world. Life-long learning and the use of both formal and informal learning opportunities become key components of the workforce system's overall capacity to provide quality business and job seeker services.
As we transition to a new way of doing business, ask yourself if your staff have these critical skills:
- Do they understand how the global economy has fundamentally changed business practices and the kinds of workers companies need?
- Do they know how to properly use assessment tools (not just the TABE) to help identify job seeker skill gaps and issues and ensure that job seekers are prepared for employer skill requirements?
- Do they understand the three new kinds of jobs in a global economy--fungible, anchored and value-add--and can they effectively advise job seekers using this information?
- Do they know how to facilitate job seekers in developing effective, actionable career plans? Can they provide the appropriate support and follow-up to ensure that job seekers are able to implement their plans?
The value of workforce Boards and One-Stop service systems lies in the quality of your staff, so to be successful in a global economy, Boards and One-Stops must commit to ongoing capacity-building and training. They need to ensure that their staff have the up-to-date skills that businesses require.
