Legislation I have been working on this year has not gotten much notice despite its importance to Virginia's long-term economic health. This is the latest step in making effective the use of the $50 million a year federal Workforce Investment Act money as our citizens prepare for the jobs of now and the future.
Currently there are not the workers needed for existing and potential employers in many areas. The problem is real. Within the next few years we will be short 22,000 nurses and in the next five years 100,000 skilled workers will be eligible to retire.
The goal of the workforce training initiatives I have been working on is to match the training and education our folks receive to the needs of employers.
Currently Virginia has 23 different agencies doing some part of workforce training. Each of the last three governors has tried to improve the situation under the guidelines issued by the federal government during the last decade; however, there is still much work that needs to be done.
After studying the problem, Delegate Kathy Byron and I began working to fix the system as Governor Tim Kaine was entering office. We passed legislation that year requiring the Governor to create a plan to make workforce training in Virginia more efficient and effective.
That plan called for most of the true job training efforts to be put under the guidance of the Virginia Community College system while keeping the social welfare type services, such as the Virginia Employment Commission and social services, in their own areas.
This year's legislation continues with the plan by giving the Governor’s Workforce Investment Council a more responsible and active role in planning and implementing training rather than just serving as an advisory board.
The legislation also gives the Council the responsibility to oversee the Career Readiness program that is being supported by the Virginia Manufacturing Association and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
This program is a key component to bridge the gap between Virginia's schools and employers. This will focus the training of workers to the skills needed in particular trades based on the needs of an area.
By educating and training our people for actual and future jobs we will be helping the individual become more employable and making the employer more profitable.
The more we do to have people employed with good paying jobs, the more likely it is that they will not be forced to move away from an area to find a good job.
I want to hear from you on what you think about this and other issues before the General Assembly. We just have a couple of days to go until this year’s session draws to an end. Through Saturday call my office at 804-698-7515.
Starting next week, you can call my office at 434-374-5129 or you can visit my website www.FrankMRuff.com and click on the “Contact Us” button or you can email me at district15@sov.state.va.us. You can send mail to P.O. Box 332, Clarksville, VA 23927.