Posted: | April 28, 2023 10:40 AM |
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From: | Senator Camera Bartolotta |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Workforce Development - Data Sharing |
Pennsylvania’s 22 local workforce development boards provide essential services that connect dislocated workers and job seekers to employers that can provide career pathways to financial stability. One of the most effective ways to track the success of our workforce system is through data. In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that will require the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) and the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis (CWIA) to share already collected workforce data on wages, new hires, and UC claimants with local workforce development boards. One of the most important ways to evaluate the effectiveness of workforce development programs and services is by measuring customer performance. Unfortunately, local boards often wait extended periods of time - upwards of two years - to receive customer performance data despite DLI and CWIA having access to the necessary timely data. The breakdown and lag in information and data sharing is a significant barrier to effective and efficient program and policy analysis by local workforce development boards. The legislation I will be introducing seeks to fix this inefficient data sharing model. Along with the benefit of effective and efficient program analysis, the utilization of data in the improvement and fine tuning of workforce development programs promotes accountability for the investment of public funds. Simply sharing already reported wage, new hire, and unemployment data will provide the local boards with the timely opportunity to identify potential customers and measure the success and shortcomings of specific programs and customers. Lastly, accessibility of the wage, new hire, and UC claimant data by Pennsylvania local workforce development boards will only be successful if the data is shared in a user-friendly way and technical assistance is provided by CWIA. The legislation I will be introducing includes the necessary technical assistance and support needed to ensure that the outlined data that is made accessible is also useful for local workforce development boards. Please join me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation that seeks to fix an inefficient data sharing model and provide the necessary technical assistance to ensure that the data shared is successfully utilized. |
Introduced as SB761