Dear Reader:


For Workforce Development Month, we have gathered several resources to help businesses with their talent and retention needs. They include:

  • The WOW Factor - local talent looking for jobs;
  • How Is Your Company Engaging and Retaining Employees;
  • RFPs for Truck Driving & Information Technology Short-Term Trainings;
  • Fall Job Fair on October 13;
  • The Great Resignation;
  • Vaccine Requirement for Employers with 100+ employees; and
  • Workforce Innovation Grants.


Thanks!
Business Solutions Team
Forward Careers, Inc.

WE HAVE LOCAL TALENT LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT

This month's WOW Factor features local talent in search of employment opportunities in the following positions:

  • Administrative Assistant
  • Purchasing Director
  • Systems Administrator

The majority of our clients qualify for our On-the-Job Training (OJT) program, which offers new hires an opportunity to earn as they learn while employers are reimbursed to help compensate for the costs associated with skills upgrading and loss of production for the training of a newly hired employee.

Advantages to the employer include:
  • The employer sets the qualifications, interviews and selects the candidate(s);
  • With our assistance, the employer develops a training plan to address the gap between the new hire's existing skills and the job skill requirements; and
  • On average, an employer is reimbursed $3,500 per new hire.

Our turnaround time is within 24 hours or sooner. Don't delay and contact your Business Solutions Team before you extend a job offer to your next hire.



HOW IS YOUR COMPANY ENGAGING & RETAINING EMPLOYEES IN A COMPETITIVE JOB SEEKER MARKET?


Training programs are learning and development tools. Through training, employees are able to hone their skills and acquire new ones that in return boosts a company’s performance. Additionally, studies have shown that employees are more likely to stay with the company if they are able to benefit from a wide variety of training programs available.
 
In today’s competitive job seeker market, we are seeing more job seekers inquire about training programs during interviews to determine whether that company is a good fit for them. With technology evolving and a cultural shift on continuous learning, we strongly encourage employers to consider our Incumbent Worker Training program. In summary, this is how it works:

  • Participating businesses must have a facility located in Wisconsin.
  • Employers select the training to be provided to their employees.
  • Trainings may range from 1 day to 16 weeks.
  • Employers complete and submit an application, detailed training description, training invoice and job descriptions for each employee going to training.
  • After the employee(s) successfully complete the training, the employer will be reimbursed between 25% and 75% of costs of training their employees.
  • Training costs cannot include travel, training supplies or materials such as books, manuals, etc. 
  • Fall 2021 trainings must be completed by December 31, 2021 and Spring 2022 trainings must be completed by June 17, 2022.


Applications for Round II are due by 12:00 PM on Friday, October 1, 2021.

Click below to view the full grant program announcement and forms.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) ANNOUNCEMENT
 
Forward Careers is seeking proposals from education and training institutions to administer one (1) short-term training program in the heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver field and two (2) short-term training programs in the information technology field. The training programs will train individuals that are 18 years and older, who are disconnected job seekers, career changers, or non-traditional job seekers, and eligible to receive WIOA Adult and/or WIOA Youth program training services.
 
The proposed short-term training programs must be listed on or in the process of being added to the Wisconsin Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) and result in the attainment of a credential or industry-recognized certificate for award consideration. The length of the training should not exceed 16 weeks and must accommodate a training capacity of 10 to 18 individuals. The maximum funding available for this short-term training programs are:
 
  • $40,000 for training programs in heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver 
  • $30,000 for one (1) and/or $60,000 for two (2) training programs in information technology
 
 
TIMELINE FOR BOTH RFPS
  • Questions should be submitted by 4:00 PM CST on Monday, September 20, 2021 via email to Forward Careers at ForwardCareers@wctc.edu.
  • An electronic copy of the proposal should be submitted no later than 4:00 PM CST on Friday, October 15, 2021 via email to ForwardCareers@wctc.edu.
 
Late proposals will not be accepted. All questions and answers will be posted on this website page. Please review all details.

RESERVE YOUR JOB FAIR BOOTH TODAY!

We are moving forward with our Fall Job Fair to help connect businesses and job seekers.

FALL JOB FAIR
October 13, 2021
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Waukesha County Expo Center
1000 Northview Rd, Waukesha, WI 53188


As we continue to experience the unpredictably of the pandemic, we are going to accept booth reservations and invoice participating businesses up to 2 weeks prior to the event. To help you plan for the job fair, we are reusing content from last month's newsletter:

  • Average UI Benefits: A recent podcast featured the Chief Economist of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development that mentions unemployment benefits average between $14.22 and $16.75 per hour based on industry.

  • Competitive Pay: A "competitive" salary is no longer just about pay. It also includes benefits and perks needed to attract in a tight labor market. Utilize WisConomy widgets to determine if your wages are competitive and consider providing flexible work, hybrid schedules to reduce commuting time, offer a paid leave program, and reasonable healthcare. Similarly, offer a child care benefits program. For examples of child care programs, check out this CNBC article.

  • Application Process: It is vital to be empathetic, transparent, and communicative to your candidates throughout the application process. Be honest about every aspect of the job’s details and streamline your application process. Don't waste time and be ready to extend the job offer ASAP.


Please visit our webpage for full job fair details and how to reserve a booth.

THE GREAT RESIGNATION - WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE JOB MARKET?

If you haven't had a chance to see our latest "The Interview", a partnership with New Horizons, please check it out! "The Interview" is a monthly show that examines topics surrounding the job market, career change and training.

On this month's show, we're talking with Aaron Schneider and Executive Recruiter with the Petenwell Group about the Great Resignation and how it's shaking up the job market.

You'll learn about drivers impacting resignations, tips for employers to consider, including employee training programs, which is another reason to apply for an Incumbent Worker Training grant.

VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR EMPLOYERS WITH 100+ EMPLOYEES


Last week a federal vaccine requirement for employers with 100+ employees was released. Our very own Forward Careers Board of Directors and President of Goldstein Law Group, S.C., Mark Goldstein, was featured on MMAC's panel on this topic. For background on the requirement, please visit this link.

WISCONSIN WORKFORCE INNOVATION GRANTS

The Workforce Innovation Grant Program is a collaboration between the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). The program provides up to $10 million grants to regional organizations to design and implement innovative plans that help solve the workforce challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has caused in their regions. This program encourages the development of leading-edge, long-term solutions that enable businesses to more easily find workers and empower those workers to more successfully prepare for and connect to the family-supporting careers in their regions.

To learn more details, please sign up for their upcoming webinar on Wednesday, September 22, from 9:00 to 10:00 AM.
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Forward Careers, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer & Service Provider. If you have a disability and need information in an alternative format, including language assistance or translation, and/or need assistance with this information, please contact us at (262) 695-7800 or call through Wisconsin Relay Service 711. Funding provided by the WOW Workforce Development Board through the Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act/Emergency Recovery Grant/Department of Corrections Windows to Work, Department of Labor Pathway Home 2, Department of Children and Families - John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, Women & Girls Fund of Waukesha County, & United Way of Washington County,