Developing a Quality Workforce

BUSINESS NEWSLETTER

December 2017
Vol. I, Issue 3
2017 Madera County Fall Job Fair
On October 26 th the Workforce Development Board of Madera County and the City of Madera Parks and Community Services, partnered to host the 2017 Madera County Fall Job Fair held at the Pan-American Community Center. The event celebrated National Disability Employment Awareness month and drew more than 245 people looking for employment. 36 employers were present representing a variety of sectors, from the retail and hospitality industry to the manufacturing and medical industry. Partner agencies such as Department of Social Services, Department of Rehabilitation, State Center Community Center, Resources of Independence Central Valley, Central Valley Opportunity Center, Employment Development Department and the California Indian Manpower Consortium were present offering different types of resources and services to job seekers.

A special thank you to the following businesses for their kind donations to support the event: Walmart, Starbucks, Savemart, Lowes and The Hope House.

Local Business Spotlight
Steel Structures Inc.  
This company engineers and fabricates custom steel silos to meet the needs of any application in the agricultural, food processing, chemical, and fertilizer industries. They specializes in custom fabrication for liquid, dry, and or gas products including heat exchangers, jacketed vessels, insulated tanks, and baked on coatings. SSI works with a variety of materials, including: carbon steel, stainless steel, nickel alloys, Alloy 20, and even Duplex 2205. Their coating facility is exceptional - they are prepared to take on even the most difficult projects. SSI's design and project engineers / draftsmen are well experienced in custom design.

The Workforce Development Board of Madera County has worked closely with Steel Structures and their subsidiary company Riley's Brewing providing a variety of business services including the on-the-Job Training program and the Paid Work Experience program. Since 2013 Steel Structure has successfully trained and hired eight workforce program participants and received more than $70,000 to offset the cost of training new employees.

Steel Structures is also taking advantage of the Incumbent Worker Training Program receiving funding to train an existing employee. The intent of the program is to support the skill development of employees and to preserve existing jobs for Madera County residents. Training can be customized to meet specific needs.

For more information about the Incumbent Worker Training program, contact Jorge Espinosa at (559) 662-4540 or [email protected]
Click below for more program details.
New California Workplace Laws for 2018 and How to Get Ready
Governor Brown has signed into law a number of significant employment-related bills that will impact California workplaces. Here’s a summary of key laws taking effect on January 1, 2018, along with best practices to get ready -- and ensure compliance. 
Transgender Rights in the Workplace
Transgender Poster
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has issued the mandatory workplace notice  “Transgender Rights in the Workplace”  in accordance with SB 396. This poster must be posted in a prominent and accessible location, along with other mandatory workplace notices, by January 1, 2018. You may also download this free posting here.

According to the DFEH, the poster addresses key topics such as the right of employees to use restrooms, locker rooms, and other similar facilities corresponding to their gender identity. “We expect this posting requirement to increase understanding of the law and assist California employers in providing safe and inclusive work environments,” said Kevin Kish, Director of DFEH. The poster also follows regulations developed by the Fair Employment and Housing Council that went into effect in July 2017.
Unemployment Rate

November 2017
Madera County...............................................................7.0%
Central Valley *(Avg.)....................................... .............7.3%
California........................................................................4.0%
US....................................................................................3.9%

The unemployment rate in the Madera County was 7.0 percent in November 2017, up from a revised 6.6 percent in October 2017, and below the year-ago estimate of 8.9 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.0 percent for California and 3.9 percent for the nation during the same period. 

*Central Valley counties include: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare.

Source: EDD November 2017 release of the Madera Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)



Employment Development Department/Workforce Services
We are pleased to announce that the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) is now housed at our Madera Workforce Assistance Center.

The federal Wagner-Peyser Act and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 authorizes the EDD to offer universal access to an integrated array of labor exchange and employment services as a fundamental part of America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) state wide delivery system. Based on customer choice, the EDD provides these quality services via self-service, on-line, and staff-assisted service. 
The EDD:
  • Links California employers and qualified job seekers based on employers’ requirements and job seekers’ qualifications.
  • Provides comprehensive services to employers; including applicant pool and screening, space to conduct interviews, and much more.
  • Administers CalJOBS online labor exchange system that gives employers complete access to post job openings directly and search, screen, and select employees from a large data base of résumés.
  • Grants job seekers full access to CalJOBS through self-registration to browse and apply for available jobs, create quality résumés, post résumés, and set up customized alerts to job openings.
  • Is committed to state and local economic development and workforce preparation services.
  • Assures priority of service to veterans.
  • Offers targeted assistance, such as job search workshops, case management services, and referrals to education, training, and supportive services to individuals with barriers to employment.

The EDD oversees a comprehensive approach for providing workforce development activities that benefit job seekers, dislocated workers, youth, incumbent workers, new entrants to the workforce, veterans, persons with disabilities, and employers. These activities promote an increase in employment, job retention, wages, and occupational skills of the participants and contribute to the global economic environment in California.
Business 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide
The Business 30-Second Training Series and complementary Business Resource Guide were developed with a business focus and designed to educate businesses, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in retaining and accommodating existing employees who experience onset of a disability.


Trees for Charity
The Madera County Workforce Investment Corporation submitted a tree in the annual Madera Sunrise Rotary Trees for Charity 2017 event, held on December 2, 2017 at the Madera County Fairgrounds. Madera Sunrise Rotary is celebrating 32 years of Trees for Charity.

This year MCWIC used this event as part of a planned fund development campaign for the organization and contributions were included as part of the auction process. Funds raised under the umbrella of the non-profit will be used for additional scholarships and supportive services, as well as assist in creating and maintaining customized classes and programs that are essential, but oftentimes expensive to offer, for successful outcomes for our customers and residents. All funds will be used for direct services to customers.

MCWIC would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following businesses who made a contribution:

  • A-1 Transport
  • Neri Insurance Inc.
  • Xtreme Auto Collision
  • Rosa Amalia Asuncion - Rincon Norteño
  • Michael D. Fursman
  • Innovative Rotational Molding Inc.
  • Laura Gutile
  • Arco AM/PM
  • Tomatek
  • Ardagh Group
Interesting Article
AI could wipe out half of all jobs in next 10 years
Artificial intelligence could replace half of all jobs in the next decade,  Google's former president in China predicts.
Sinovation Ventures CEO Kai-Fu Lee  told CNBC  that AI will disrupt up to 50 percent of white- and blue-collar jobs much faster than most people expect. More.. .
The Workforce Development Board is looking for members
The WDB is comprised of a majority of private sector members from our county and are the policy makers for our local workforce system. The Board meets every other month on the 3rd Thursday of the meeting month at 3:00 p.m. at the Workforce Assistance Center located at 2037 W. Cleveland Avenue in Madera.
We would be happy to meet with you and give you a tour of our new location and to answer any questions you may have!

We would love to be able to work with you. Please contact Nicki Martin at (559) 662-4589.

Please consider the possibility of becoming a board member. 

Workforce Development Board of Madera County | 2037 W. Cleveland Avenue, Madera, CA 93637 (559) 662-4500 | Fax: (559) 673-1794
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