Chris Michael: Workforce board helps with job search, helps employers

The Region 2 Workforce Investment Board, a division of WorkForce West Virginia and often referred to as "The WIB," faces the career challenges of youth, adults and employers on a daily basis. Throughout 2007 and into 2008, the focus of the organization has been on enhancing or upgrading the skills of people already employed and retraining people affected by business reorganization and/or closure to match their skill level with the demands of area employers.

"We are in constant contact with the employers throughout the seven-county service delivery area that we serve, which includes Boone, Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Putnam and Wayne. Our goal is to provide employers with specifically skilled and qualified employees that meet their business needs, which in many cases, are very diverse and we do our best to meet them," said Claude "Jake" Hunt, executive director of the Region 2 division.

The Region 2 WIB provides formal skills training and certificate programs to individuals and groups. Funding is available for adults that allows them to promote their careers through skills upgrade and new training.

The economy of our region is driven by the work force within it. Through education, skills training and employment initiatives, Region 2 WIB endeavors to positively affect the income level of individuals throughout the region. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the average annual income in the United States for a high school dropout is less than $19,000 and more than $26,000 for a high school graduate. Additional training in the form of an advanced degree or certification can provide a significant impact to that income level. Within the Region 2 WIB daily operations, that training and certification is provided, many times at no cost.

Another vital function of the organization is to assist employees who are going through a transition, into gainful employment. When an employer has announced a layoff that affects a small or large portion of its work force, the Region 2 WIB works with the One-Stop entities to provide assistance in many areas. Initially, the information that workers need is often vital to their ability to rejoin the work force.

The information given to displaced workers includes a variety of topics. Often, workers who are laid off are not aware of the resources available to maintain a level of stability and obtain assistance for family, financial and other daily sustaining needs during career adjustments. Free seminars to groups, individual counseling, literature and referral to entities for specialized assistance, as well as career/skills assessment, job interviewing, application, resume development and other basic assistance, is available through the WIB. Unemployment compensation is often the first area of concern and is addressed during the Orientation Session. The training opportunities often give a displaced worker a fast track into another career or an increased income level. Many times the training provided is free of charge to the individual.

"Available through sub-contracts and collaborative efforts is customized training and on the-job-training opportunities for individuals and businesses. Through the efforts and assistance of the Business Services Team and registered training providers, we address and are able to match the needs of employers with qualified employees," Hunt said.

One of the additional challenges that is faced by the Region 2 WIB is in the area of youth. Both in-school and out-of-school youth are encouraged to become part of the work force process through targeted programs sponsored and funded by the Region 2 WIB. The assistance provided by these programs is designed to demonstrate to youth the massive potential they have to have a strong career by focusing on their education.

"We utilize many statistics, and the one that seems to hit home with the youth is the income potential they have and how it is directly related to their education. Over the course of an individual's career, a high school graduate typically earns over $500,000 more than a high school dropout," said Teresa Daily, performance specialist with Region 2 WIB.

Chris Michael works with the Region 2 Workforce Investment Board and also works for Bulldog Creative Services.