Workforce Education

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Workforce Education

• Building
• Employee Skills
• to Meet
• Business Challenges
• for
• Today the Future

Minnesota Department of Education Minnesota Adult
Basic Education
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Worker Skills Gaps
Employers view of most serious skill
deficiencies of current hourly production
employees 59 poor basic employability skills
(attendance, timeliness, work ethic, etc.) 32
poor reading and writing skills 26 inadequate
math skills 25 inability to communicate 23
poor English language skills 22 inability to
read and translate drawings, diagrams and flow
charts 22 inability to work in a team
environment 12 poor computer and technical
skills Persistent Skills Shortages in an
Uncertain Economy (PDF file), National
Association of Manufacturers, Washington, DC,
2002 National Association of Manufacturers,
Anderson Center for Workforce Success, The Skills
Gap 2001 Manufacturers Confront.
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What is Workforce Education?

• Workforce Education is designed to improve the
  productivity of the workforce by developing
  workers literacy and basic skills.
• Services may be provided at the worksite or at a
  mutually agreed upon location away
  from the workplace.
• Services and curriculum are tailored to the needs
  of the workers and their employers.
• Programs focus on training workers who need to
  retain present jobs, advance in their career,
  increase productivity or gain new employment.
• Workforce education services are offered in
  collaboration with business, industry,
  government, and/or labor.

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Curriculum is Based Specifically On Your
Companys Needs

• Curriculum is designed to meet company needs.
• Curriculum is developed with input from managers,
  supervisors and employees.
• Skills assessments and job task analysis are used
  in curriculum development.
• Essential skills classes are held on site.

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Workforce Education Addresses

• Job-Related Curriculum Based On Company Needs
• Essential Skills Instruction
• Math, Reading and Communication
• English Language Learning
• Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced levels
• GED (General Educational Development)
• Preparation for the GED test

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Essential Skills Building

• Foundational Skills
• Reading, writing, active listening and
  speaking, math, organizing information and
  ideas
• Thinking Skills
• Ability to learn, reason, calculate, think
  creatively, make decisions, solve problems
• Soft Skills
• Responsibility, self esteem, sociability, self
  management, integrity, honesty

SCANS Skills as identified in the Secretarys
Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills
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Essential Skills Building (Cont.)

• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading, writing, active listening and
  speaking, math, organizing information and ideas
• Resource Management
• Organizing, planning, allocation of time,
  money, materials, staff
• Information Management
• Acquiring and evaluating facts and data,
  organizing and maintaining information,
  interpreting and communicating the information,
  using computers

SCANS Skills as identified in the Secretarys
Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills
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Factors Affecting Productivity

• The National Center on the Educational Quality of
  the Workforce found that productivity increases
  for each of the following factors.
• Findings for Manufacturing sector
• 10 increase in the average education of all
  workers is associated
  with a productivity increase of 8
• 10 increase in hours results in a productivity
  increase of 5
• 10 increase in capital stock results in a
  productivity increase of 3
• Equivalent to slightly more than one
  additional year of schooling.

Continued
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Factors Affecting Productivity

• Findings for Non-manufacturing sector
• 10 increase in the average education of all
  workers
  is associated with a productivity increase of
  11
• 10 increase in hours results in an increase of
  6
• 10 increase in capital stock results in an
  increase of 3
• Equivalent to slightly more than one
  additional year of schooling.
• National Center on the Educational Quality of the
  Workforce, The Other Shoe Education's
  Contribution to the Productivity of
  Establishments A Second Round of Findings from
  the EQW National Employer Survey, National Center
  on the Educational Quality of the Workforce,
  Pennsylvania, 1995.

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Benefits to Your Company

• Maximizes training value for your money
• Customizes training to your business needs
• Enhances productivity
• Increases efficiency
• Improves customer service
• Increases profits and value
• Improves teamwork

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Benefits to Employees

• Prepares employees for more advanced training
• Improves basic skills at all levels
• Broadens understanding of workplace diversity
• Increases self esteem
• Improves proficiency
• Improves time management
• Enhances communication

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Testimonials

• Companies that increased their training
  activities were three times more likely to report
  increased profits and shareholder value than
  companies that cut back training.
• American Management Association, 2001 Staffing
  Survey.

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Workforce Education Role

• Assess companys education needs
• Provide qualified instructor
• Assess and evaluate employees literacy needs
• Select and develop appropriate training materials
• Provide feedback to employers and employees
• Evaluate and report employee achievements

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Companys Role

• Provide input for instruction, a primary company
  contact and appropriate training space
• Release employees or schedule classes before or
  after shifts
• Pay negotiated agreed-upon fees for educational
  services
• Participate in evaluation of training
  effectiveness
• Consult on program design and evaluation

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Contact Information

• MDE and Adult Basic Education