Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- a. State Strategy Implementation
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include–
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
Describe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
- a. State Strategy Implementation
III. a. 2. D. Coordination, Alignment and Provision of Services to Employers
Describe how the entities carrying out the respective core programs, any Combined State Plan partner program included in this plan, required and optional one-stop partner programs will coordinate activities and resources to provide comprehensive, high-quality services to employers to meet their current and projected workforce needs and to achieve the goals of industry or sector partners in the state. The activities described shall conform to the statutory requirements of each program.
Current Narrative:
While WFWV has consistently tailored its services to meet the specific needs of employers, a significant shift occurred in 2019 with the establishment of a Business Services Unit (BSU) focused on enhancing employer engagement and retention. Currently, this unit operates with representatives stationed in each local region, collaborating closely with LWDBs, DRS, Adult Education, Senior Services, and other partner agencies to seamlessly connect employers with skilled job seekers. Quarterly meetings facilitate discussions on strategies and best practices to effectively bridge the gap between employers and job seekers. Regular virtual and in-person job fairs cater to individual hiring needs and help re-engage employers with WFWV and its partners. Additionally, Business Services representatives attend rapid response meetings to swiftly reintegrate displaced workers into the labor force.
The WVWDB, being business-driven, provides crucial input into the direction of workforce programs alongside LWDBs at the local-level. The WVWDB standardizes the delivery of products and services to businesses. Employers benefit from job listings, employee searches, analysis of Labor Market Information (LMI), and access to business services through a statewide data system that minimizes duplication. WFWV serves as a one-stop center for workforce resources, offering the state's largest online database of job seekers, worker training assistance, referrals to partner agencies, and unemployment processing.
Throughout the state, OJT providers and Business Services representatives engage with employers to promote available opportunities across the state.
Local Veterans' Employment Representatives (LVERs) are fully integrated into Business Services, establishing strong relationships with employers, sharing business service knowledge, coordinating resources, and boosting awareness and utilization of services and incentives for veterans. They emphasize the unique skills and competencies veterans bring to the civilian workforce.
The DRS leads in accessibility standards, disability talent recruitment, and related issues. DRS employment specialists gather employment information from business contacts, inputting job orders into WFWV's online system and sharing across the WDS. DRS continues to serve on Business Service Teams (BSTs), providing comprehensive WDS information during employer visits to maximize impact and ensure awareness of available resources.
West Virginia Adult Education creates career pathways identified by employers and the workforce system by developing and implementing bridge and pre-bridge programs to assist youth and adults through postsecondary education training. These programs prepare participants for employment in high growth and high demand occupations. Adult Education partners with several CTCs and CTE programs to offer credentials that demonstrate measurable skill gains and are part of a clearly defined career pathway for individuals with barriers to employment. Achieving industry recognized credentials is paramount for securing sustainable employment. Toward that end, the Career Pathway Programs collaborate with all core and required WIOA partners, numerous additional state agencies, local educational authorities, workforce development boards, community colleges, career and technical education centers, and business and industry. Additionally, Integrated Education and Training Program opportunities are made available, when appropriate, to allow participants to develop adult education, literacy, and other workplace skills simultaneously while training for an in-demand occupation. Adult Education strengthens West Virginia’s business climate by supporting employers and helping job seekers gain the skills and knowledge required to obtain employment, remain employed, and advance in their careers.
WFWV provides business driven services responsive to the specific needs of agricultural employers. By building relationships with agricultural employers, they can connect businesses to resources, promote employer engagement and employer retention, match employers with qualified workers, and conduct virtual and in person job fairs. To establish such relationships, WFWV compiles a comprehensive list of agricultural employers around the state, allowing them to inform employers of available services and to identify additional domestic MSFWs. WFWV then communicates with employers regularly in an effort to market their services as well as those provided by partners and other state and federally-funded agencies. WFWV also holds in-person and virtual meetings with agricultural employers statewide to solicit their feedback on the quality of services and share crucial updates regarding the foreign labor certification processes and other pertinent information on resources such as grant opportunities, support services for farmworkers, and changes in federal regulations. WFWV will continue building relationships with employers through outreach and networking to provide information on how they can fulfill their hiring needs, and they will continue to work with the WVU Extension Office, the West Virginia Farm Bureau, and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture to raise greater awareness of the services provided by the WDS.
The DRS Employer Services Section maintains a database of each DRS/employer interaction with employment specialists. This list is distributed to field staff to potentially match a job-ready VR consumer with a current job opening. Through ongoing development of positive working relationships, 47 employers (including some of the largest in the state) now send job postings directly to DRS’ Employer Services Section.
All West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) CTE programs must have an advisory council in compliance with Perkins V, and a majority of members must represent business/industry to identify local labor market demand and guide program curriculum, certification needs, and program improvements. Advisory employers are deeply connected to CTE programs. For example, some employers provide onsite clinical experiences for high school CTE students enrolled in health therapeutics and adult CTE students in Practical Nursing programs, and business and industry representatives inspect simulated workplace classrooms to ensure alignment with industry needs. These representatives evaluate CTE program facilities, safety, equipment, space, tools, supplies, technology, professional skills, customer service, and teaching materials using a scorecard. Results are communicated to the administrators and teachers so they may shift programs to better meet employer standards and needs.
Learn & Earn
Through the Learn & Earn program, CTCs have a 50/50 partnership with employers students spend half of their time working on site and half of their time in the classroom.
Business Surveys
West Virginia is developing statewide business surveys to gather information on business needs, which will become a regular exercise to ensure that service and workforce training is relevant and responsive to the needs of the business community.
AJC customers, including those with disabilities, frequently require additional training to meet employer needs and their own employment goals. West Virginia CTCs often provide this training and have an excellent track record of training individuals with the skills that employers need to fill high quality jobs.
Through its employer partnership programs, West Virginia’s CTCs provide the training an individual needs while leveraging a company’s training dollars to maximize worker productivity. The CTCs deliver training to hundreds of employers across the state, providing customized training, skill enhancements, certificate, and associate degree programs.
The Industry Partnerships and Employer Engagement Committee of the WVWDB plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between West Virginia's workforce development initiatives and the dynamic needs of its industries. Comprising a diverse array of employers across multiple sectors, this committee collaborates closely with colleges, high schools, labor groups, workforce agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders. Together, they forge strategic partnerships that ensure training programs align seamlessly with industry demands, thereby fostering opportunities for employment, advancement, and career growth among workers.
Aligned with the objectives outlined in the WIOA State Plan, the committee operates with a clear focus on achieving two key goals:
- Strengthening West Virginia's relationships with employers.
- Forge strategic partnerships with employers to gain insights into their workforce needs.
- Bringing West Virginia's LFPR closer to the National LFPR
- Enhance the job matching process to improve employment outcomes.
Through proactive engagement and strategic alignment with these goals, the Industry Partnerships and Employer Engagement Committee drives meaningful impact in West Virginia's workforce development landscape, ensuring that the state remains competitive and responsive to the evolving needs of its industries and workforce.