| The mission of
the Governor's Workforce Investment Board (GWIB) is "to
guide a nationally recognized workforce development system
aligned with the economic and educational goals of the State
of Maryland resulting in a qualified workforce available to
employers across the state. To fulfill this mission, the
GWIB has shifted to a demand-driven workforce development
system. The key principle in the cluster-based approach is
what the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training
Administration refers to as "the Power of E3," the
power of education, employment and economic development
working together to solve workforce development issues is
much more effective than each working independently. GWIB
embraces the power of E3 as a part of its approach to
address workforce development issues in Maryland.
The U.S. Department of Labor
recognizes the "GWIB cluster-based approach to
workforce development" as a national model worthy of
replication. GWIB has worked with the healthcare industry to
development this approach, resulting in meaningful and
sustainable results. As a result of the successful
healthcare coordinated approach, GWIB has received a grant
from the U.S. Department of Labor to establish the GWIB
Center for Industry Initiatives. Center staff will replicate
the process used for healthcare in other industries to
document employment strategies and initiatives that will
help these industries attract, develop and retain their
workers.
The GWIB worked
collaboratively over one year with several other State
agencies and businesses to use NAICS codes to define the
first thirteen targeted industries for employment
development based on the following criteria: 1) high
population; 2) high growth or growth potential; and 3)
critical to Maryland's economic development. State agency
representatives involved in this process came from the Labor
Market and Analysis Office at the Department of Labor,
Licensing and Regulation (DLLR), the Maryland Department of
Business and Economic Development (DBED), the Local
Workforce Investment Boards (LWIBs), the Maryland Higher
Education Commission (MHEC), the Maryland State Department
of Education (MSDE), the Maryland Association of Community
Colleges.
The Center will provide
guidance and limited financial support and research to the
thirteen industry initiative committees as they go through
the process of resolving their industry's workforce
development issues. The 5-phase industry-led process
involves engaging leaders of specific industries to lead and
become part of industry steering committees. In these
committees, key industry representatives from across the
state follow a unique, employment-focused, cluster-based
approach that will document their industry's demands and
identify the critical issues and initiatives that will help
the industry to attract, train and retain a viable workforce
for the next ten years.
Several industry groups have
begun meeting or are in the process of forming a steering
committee to launch their industry initiative. The Center
for Industry Initiatives will guide and monitor the industry
initiative process for each industry cluster which will
result in a plan of action to address current and future
workforce development issues. |
