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In the last session the Oregon Legislature passed HB 3300 which required the Oregon Workforce Investment Board to develop a plan to create a future green workforce.  While green jobs currently only make up about 3% of all Orgon Jobs, according to a recent Employment Department report, they are likely to pay more and grow fater than a number of other economic sectors in Oregon.  What's really important about this disscussion is to assure that Oreogn has the skilled workforce it needs not only for future green jobs, but for all skilled jobs.  Oregon has a gap of skilled workers as demonstrated by The Workforce Alliance's "Forgotten Middle Skill Jobs" report, published last spring
http://www.skills2compete.org/atf/cf/%7B8e9806bf-4669-4217-af74-26f62108ea68%7D/FORGOTTENJOBS_OR_FINAL.PDF.  This will challenge our state to take advantage of growth opporutnities in the green sector and otherwise as the economy starts to turn around.

posted 3 years, 7 months ago
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Oregon, like many states, has had both successes and challenges helping people use "down time as training time."  The Summer Youth programs mentioned by chforster are an example of the opportunities and successes created by ARRA funding.  Oregon's Workforce Investment Boards (like the Lane Workforce Partnership) have also used ARRA funding to support a number of investments into training for emerging green jobs.

However, those implementing the programs have also faced challenges.  Community Colleges have faced steep increases in student enrollment at a time when Oregon's tight budget situation has stretched their capacity to respond.  Matching training capacity with future demand is also tricky in a tight economy.   

Still, the Recovery Act provides an important tool for preparing people for work.  About 50% of Oregon's jobs today and in the future require education past high school completion - industry recoginzed credentials, apprenticeships, associates degrees, etc.  The ARRA provides a tool to help people gain the training they will need to compete for these jobs as they become available after the recession.

posted 3 years, 9 months ago
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