new jersey wioa combined state plan submitted 9-1-2016 ... combined state... · submitted to usdol:...

Submitted to USDOL: 9/1/2016 2016

Combined State Plan for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 2016

NEW JERSEY

Submitted to USDOL: 9/1/2016

State of New Jersey

Combined State Plan for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

2016 Page | 2

TableofContentsIntroduction......................................................................................................................................3

I.WIOAStatePlanType....................................................................................................................5

II.StrategicPlanningElements.........................................................................................................6

Economic,Workforce,andWorkforceDevelopmentActivitiesAnalysis.....................................6

EducationandSkillLevelsoftheWorkforce...............................................................................22

WorkforceDevelopmentEducationandTrainingActivitiesAnalysis.........................................26

StateStrategicVisionandGoals.................................................................................................37

StateStrategy..............................................................................................................................42

III.OperationalPlanningElements.................................................................................................62

StateStrategyImplementation...................................................................................................62

StateOperatingSystemsandPolicies.......................................................................................108

IV.CoordinationwithStatePlanPrograms..................................................................................144

V.CommonAssurances................................................................................................................146

VI.ProgramSpecificRequirementsforCorePrograms................................................................148

TITLEIB:Adult,DislocatedWorker,andYouthActivities........................................................148

WagnerPeyserAct....................................................................................................................173

AdultEducationandLiteracy....................................................................................................191

VocationalRehabilitation..........................................................................................................203

VocationalRehabilitationServicesforBlindandVisuallyImpairedIndividuals.....................260

VII.ProgramSpecificRequirementsforCombinedStatePlanPartnerPrograms.......................314

JobsforVeteransStateGrants..................................................................................................314

SeniorCommunityServiceEmploymentProgram(SCSEP).......................................................336

ReintegrationofExOffendersProgram....................................................................................361

Endnotes.......................................................................................................................................363

TableofFigures.............................................................................................................................365

Appendix1:PerformanceGoalsforCorePrograms.....................................................................367

Appendix2:PublicCommentSummary.......................................................................................372

Appendix3:USDOEWIOAMeasurableSkillsGainsTargets........................................................384

Appendix4:KeyNewJerseyTalentDevelopmentPolicies..........................................................386


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IntroductionToday,moreNewJerseyresidentsareworkingthaneverbefore,andthestatesunemploymentrateisatitslowestlevelsince2007.NewJerseyseconomygrewby83,600privatesectorjobsin2015alone,andthestatehasaddedmorethan250,000privatesectorjobsoverthepastsixyears.Duringthisperiodofgrowthandrecovery,NewJerseyhasbuiltatalentdevelopmentsystemthatis ensuring more people have the skills, abilities and connections to pursue economicopportunitiesandensuringthatthestatehastheskilledworkforceneededtosupportandsustaineconomicgrowth.

Thistalentdevelopmentsystemincludes:

1. Newpartnershipswithemployersacrossthestatessevenkeyindustries,2. Strongcollaborationsbetweenworkforceprograms,educationandhighereducation,3. Theuseoftechnologytobetterconnectjobseekersandemployers,4. Betterlabormarketintelligencetoinformworkforceinvestments,and5. Innovative partnerships between the state, local governments, community and faith

basedorganizationsandeducationalinstitutions.

Inaneraofglobalcompetitionandrapidtechnologicalchange,NewJerseymustcontinuetobuildonthisstrongfoundation.ThisCombinedStatePlansetsastrategicdirectionforthefutureandoutlinesthestepsthestatewilltaketoincreasethenumberofresidentswithanindustryvaluedcredentialordegreethroughhighqualitypartnershipsandintegratedinvestments.

ThePlanisfocusedonfiveprimarythemes:

Theme1:BuildingCareerPathwayswithafocusonIndustryValuedCredentials

Throughacommondefinitionofcareerpathways,anewlycreatedlistofindustryvaluedcredentials, literacy standardsanda renewedcommitment toEmploymentFirst forallpersons with disabilities, New Jersey will ensure that all workforce investments areenabling individuals toaccessgreatereconomicopportunityand tobuildon theirskillsthroughouttheircareers.Theseeffortswillexpandthenumberofcareerpathways,atalllevels of education and workforce services, which will help more individuals obtainindustryvaluedcredentialsanddegrees.

Theme2:ExpandingHighQualityEmployerDrivenPartnerships

Across departments, New Jersey is focusing investments and programs on buildingemployerdriven, highquality partnerships that follow a common definition andframework.Thesepartnershipsarecriticaltobuildingnewcareerpathwaysforjobseekersandstudentsandhelp increasethenumberof individualswithan industryvaluedpostsecondary degree or credential. To further support these efforts, the states sevenindustryfocused TalentNetworkswill facilitate the development of new highquality,


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employerdriven partnerships across the state; investments in new Targeted IndustryPartnershipsandTalentDevelopmentCenterswillbuildafoundationforallofthestatesworkforcedevelopmentinvestments.Theme3:StrengtheningCareerNavigationAssistancethroughOneStopCareerCentersandBroadPartnerships

NewJerseyiscommittedtosupportingOneStopCareerCentersthatmeetlocalneedsandassist individuals inobtainingnew skills andemployment.New Jerseywillexpand thenumberofjobseekersandstudentswhohaveaccesstohighqualitycareerguidanceandjob searchassistance throughanewnetworkofOneStopCareerCenters, communitycolleges, libraries, communitybased organizations and faithbased organizations,organizedlaborandeducationalinstitutions.

Theme4:StrengtheningGovernancethroughEffectiveWorkforceDevelopmentBoardsandRegionalCollaborations

EffectiveWorkforceDevelopmentBoardsarecriticaltothesuccessofNewJerseysTalentDevelopmentsystem.Ledbytheprivatesectorbutinclusiveofkeypartners,localWDBsengaged in an active governance role ensure that investments aremade in effectiveprogramsandthatlocalresidentscanaccesstheservicestheyneedforcareersuccess.

New Jersey has committed to supporting regional planning, service coordination andresourcesharingforallworkforceeducationandtrainingprograms,recognizingthatlabormarkets arenot constrainedby governmentalorpoliticalboundaries.New Jersey is adenselypopulatedstateandour labormarketsarenotconstrainedbystateandcountyboundaries. These effortswill be organized around three regions of the state:North,CentralandSouth.Theme5:EnsuringSystemIntegritythroughMetricsandGreaterTransparency

Toreflectthestrategicprioritiesofthestate,NewJerseyisadoptinganadditionalsetofperformance measures and applying these measures, and those required by theWorkforceInnovationandOpportunityActtobroadernumberofprograms.NewJerseywillmakeperformancedataonworkforcedevelopmentprogramsaccessibletoworkforcedecisionmakersandthepublic.TheEligibleTrainingProviderListandConsumerReportCardarecriticaltoolsassistingjobseekersandstudentsmakingdecisionsaboutshorttermoccupationaltrainingprograms.

NewJerseylooksforwardtoimplementingthisCombinedStatePlanandcontinuingtobuilduponitsstrongfoundationoftalentdevelopmenttosupporteconomicopportunitiesforourcitizensandeconomicgrowthforourstate.


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I.WIOAStatePlanTypeNewJerseyhaschosentosubmitaCombinedStatePlanasaresultofa jointplanningprocessamongseveralstateagenciescoveringtherequiredprogramsandoptionalprograms,asoutlinedinthetablebelow.

RequiredPartners AdditionalPartners

DepartmentofLaborandWorkforceDevelopment

Department of Labor andWorkforceDevelopment

Adult(TitleI)

DislocatedWorker(TitleI)

Youth(TitleI)

AdultBasicEducationandFamilyLiteracy(WIOATitleII)

WagnerPeyser(WagnerPeyserAct,asamendedbyTitleIII)

VocationalRehabilitation(includingtheNewJerseyCommissionfortheBlindandVisuallyImpaired)(TitleIRehabilitation,asamendedbyTitleIV)

JobsforVeteransStateGrants(Title38,Chapter41)

SeniorCommunityServiceEmploymentProgram(TitleVOlderAmericansAct)

ReintegrationofExOffendersProgram(Section212oftheSecondChanceActof2007)

TradeAdjustmentAssistanceforWorkersPrograms(Chapter2ofTitleIIoftheTradeActof1974)

Figure1

ThiscombinedplanningprocesswillpositionNewJerseysworkforcesystemtoallowforfurthercollaborationwithprogramsthatarenotofficiallyapartofthisplan,andprovideopportunitiesforadditionalefficienciesandleveragingofprogramstrengths.


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II.StrategicPlanningElements(a)Economic,Workforce,andWorkforceDevelopmentActivitiesAnalysis(1)EconomicandWorkforceAnalysis(A)Economic Analysis. The Unified or Combined State Planmust include an analysis of the

economicconditionsandtrendsintheState,includingsubstateregionsandanyspecificeconomicareasidentifiedbytheState.Thisincludes:

(i) ExistingDemand IndustrySectorsandOccupations.Provideananalysisofthe industriesandoccupationsforwhichthereisexistingdemand.

ExistingIndustryandOccupationalDemandi,ii,iiiNewJerseyseconomycontinuestoimprove.MoreNewJerseyansareemployedthaneverbeforeandthestatesunemploymentrateof4.5percentisatitslowestlevelsince2007.NewJerseysunemploymentrateremainedstableordeclinedeachmonthsinceMay2012,andisdownby5.3percentage points from a recessionary high of 9.8 percent in January 2010. The statesunemploymentratehasbeenatorbetter thanthenationalratesinceOctober2015.And thestateslaborforceparticipationrateremainswellabovethenationalrate,64.1percentto62.7percent.Thestateadded83,600privatesectorjobsin2015,forasixthconsecutiveyearofprivatesectorjobgrowthandthestrongestyearsince1999. NewJerseyprivatesectoremployershavenowaddedmorethan250,000jobssinceFebruary2010,therecessionarylowpointforprivatesectoremploymentinthestate.NewJerseyhadmorethanfourmillionnonfarmjobsin2015.Thefourmostprevalentindustriesaccountedfornearly60%oftheemploymentinthestate.ThetoptwoindustriesofEducationandHealthServicesandProfessionalandBusinessServicesproducenearlyoneoutofeverythreejobsfortheState.

BureauofLaborStatistics,CurrentEmploymentStatistics

Industry(2digitNAICS)2015AnnualAverage

Employment

PercentofTotalemployment

EducationandHealthServices 659,300 16.4%ProfessionalandBusinessServices 651,400 16.2%Government 614,800 15.3%RetailTrade 462,300 11.5%LeisureandHospitality 359,600 8.9%FinancialActivities 250,800 6.2%Manufacturing 238,200 5.9%WholesaleTrade 216,800 5.4%Transportation,WarehousingandUtilities 176,600 4.4%OtherServices 168,900 4.2%Construction 148,000 3.7%Information 74,400 1.8%MiningandLogging 1,400 0.0%Figure2


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Therewerenearly3.9millionemployeesacrossalloccupationswithinNewJerseyin2014.Ofthetop10occupationsonlyRegisteredNurses ($78,330)hadahigher thanaverageannualsalary($53,770)fortheState.Thetop10occupationsaccountedforalittleover20%ofallemploymentin the State in 2014. Retail Salespersons, the largest occupation, accounts for 3.5% of allemploymentandhasanaveragewage($26,860)thathalfoftheaveragewagefortheState.

BureauofLaborStatistics,OccupationalEmploymentStatistics

Divingmoredeeply intoNew Jerseyshighdemand industries, theNew JerseyDepartmentofLaborandWorkforceDevelopmenthashighlightedsevenkeyindustryclustersforthestate.Theseven key industry clusters are: Advanced Manufacturing; Health Care; Financial Services;Technology;Transportation,LogisticsandDistribution;BiopharmaceuticalandLifeScience;andLeisure, Hospitality and Retail Trade. Together, all of these clusters account for 67% ofemploymentand68%ofwagesforallprivatesector industries inNewJersey.ivTheyrepresent138,522establishments,morethanhalfofallestablishmentsinthestate.TheseventargetindustryclustersweredevelopedseveralyearsagoinsupportofNewJerseysStatePlan.TheStatePlanfocusedontargetedeconomicgrowthbypromotingopportunitiesthatattractandgrow industries important to the stateand the region. Job retentionandcreationeffortscanbestrengthenedbyfocusingonregionalplanningandthecultivationofindustryclusterbaseddevelopmentstrategies.AreviewofNewJerseysstrengthsandassetsreflectedthecriticalroletheseindustriesplayedinNewJersey.However,thisisnottosayotherindustrysectorsarenot important. The success of these core industrieswill create secondary benefits thatwillcontributetothegrowthofother industries.Thesevenkey industryclustersaccount fortwothirdsoftheemploymentandwages inthestate. IntheGardenState,thesekeyclustershavefoundanideallocationwithinadaysdriveof40.0percentoftheU.S.population;atalented,productiveandhighlyeducatedworkforcewithahighdensityofresidentswithadvanceddegreesand52collegesanduniversities.

Occupation(6digitSOC) 2014AnnualAverageEmploymentAnnual

AverageSalaryTotal,AllOccupations 3,868,950 $53,770RetailSalespersons 138,020 $26,860Cashiers 95,910 $20,820LaborersandFreight,Stock,andMaterialMovers,Hand 83,650 $26,690RegisteredNurses 76,790 $78,330OfficeClerks,General 76,080 $33,160JanitorsandCleaners,ExceptMaidsandHousekeepingCleaners

68,470 $28,240

CustomerServiceRepresentatives 64,110 $37,740StockClerksandOrderFillers 63,590 $26,030SecretariesandAdministrativeAssistants,ExceptLegal,Medical,

61,520 $39,850

Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers,IncludingFastFood

57,890 $20,550

Figure3


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Leisure,HospitalityandRetail(LHR)Thisisthelargestofthesevenindustryclustersintermsofemploymentwithnearlytwentyfivepercentofstatewideemploymentin2014.ThestatestourismindustryisasignificantpartofthestateseconomyandisprimarilycapturedbytheLeisureandHospitalitysupersector.Retailtradeis thestatessecond largest industryas farasemploymentat the twodigit levelsignifying itsimportance to the overall economy. These three industrieswere grouped together primarilybasedonsimilaroccupationalrequirements.FinancialServicesThisindustryisrelevanttoNJgiventhestateslocation,adjacenttooneofthelargestfinancialhubsintheworld,NewYorkCity.HealthCareThisindustryclusterfocusesonthepartoftheindustryinvolvedwithpatientcare.NewJerseyishometoseverallargeandwellknownhealthcaresystems.TheHealthCareindustrywastheonlyindustrytogainemploymentthroughouttherecentrecession.AdvancedManufacturingAdvancedmanufacturingemployment isprimarilycomprisedoffour industrygroups:chemicalmanufacturing (36%),computerandelectronicproductmanufacturing (18%), fabricatedmetalmanufacturing (16%)andmachinerymanufacturing (11%).Theremaining19%aremadeupofselecteddetailedindustries.Transportation,LogisticsandDistribution(TLD)This cluster focuses on transportation and warehousing, and wholesale trade. These twocomponentsareequallyimportantinthesupplychain.NewJerseyslocationandinfrastructurearethestrengthsofthisindustry.LifeSciencesNewJersey'sLifeSciencesclusterencompassesawiderangeofindustryrelatedactivitiesthatarefocusedonlifeprocesses.Thethreecomponentsusedtofocusonthisclusterarepharmaceutical,biotechnologyandmedicaldevices.

TechnologyTheNJDepartmentofLaborandWorkforceDevelopment(LWD)definesthetechnologyclusterbased on occupational industry staffing patterns. The technology cluster ismade of industrygroups primarily found in the professional, scientific and technical service,wholesale trade,manufacturing,andinformationindustrysectors.


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AdvancedManufacturing HealthCare2014

Establishments:5,143Employment:161,328

AverageWages:$90,040PercentofTotalEmployment:4.9%

PercentofTotalWages:7.4%

2014Establishments:21,559Employment:448,863AverageWage:$53,718

PercentofTotalEmployment:13.8%PercentofTotalWages:12.3%

FinancialServices Technology

2014Establishments:11,547Employment:174,636

AverageWages:$116,107PercentofTotalEmployment:5.3%PercentofTotalWages:10.3%




Transportation,Logistics,andDistribution

BiopharmaceuticalandLifeScience







Leisure,Hospitality,andRetailTrade2014

Establishments:53,854Employment:806,046



NewJerseyDepartmentofLabor&WorkforceDevelopment,OfficeofResearchandInformation,QuarterlyCensusofEmployment&Wages,2014AnnualAverages

(ii) EmergingDemandIndustrySectorsandOccupations.Provideananalysisoftheindustries

andoccupationsforwhichdemandisemerging.

EmergingIndustriesandOccupationsvInNewJersey,bothgoodsproducingandserviceprovidingindustriesareexpectedtogrow.Whenlookingattheindividualindustries,thelargestgrowthisintheEducationalandHealthServicesIndustrywhichisexpectedtoaddover110,000jobsoverthenext10years.AlongwithEducationalandHealthServices1.7%increase,ProfessionalandBusinessServicesareexpectedtogain1.3%


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or84,500jobs.ThelargestpercentagegrowthisintheConstructionIndustryat2.5%.Itistheonlygoodsproducingindustrytoaddjobs,withbothManufacturingandMiningandLoggingexpectingtolosearound1%oftheirjobs.GovernmentandManufacturingaretheonlyindustriesthatareexpectedtoloseover15,000jobs,withGovernmentlosingthemostatnearly20,000jobs.

Industry(2digitNAICS) 2012Jobs 2022Jobs(Projected)ChangeinJobs

PercentChange

GoodsProducing 377,000 397,050 20,050 0.5%MiningandLogging 1,300 1,150 (150) (1.4%)Construction 130,400 166,550 36,150 2.5%Manufacturing 245,300 229,350 (15,950) (0.7%)ServiceProviding 3,513,800 3,800,200 286,400 0.8%Trade,Transportation&Utilities 821,700 885,100 63,400 0.7%Information 77,300 70,850 (6,450) (0.9%)FinancialActivities 250,100 264,100 14,000 0.5%ProfessionalandBusinessServices 618,200 702,700 84,500 1.3%EducationalandHealthServices 620,300 733,050 112,750 1.7%LeisureandHospitality 346,000 371,650 25,650 0.7%OtherServices 164,200 176,350 12,150 0.7%Government 616,000 596,350 (19,650) (0.3%)

Figure4

BureauofLaborStatistics,IndustryandOccupationalEmploymentProjections

Employmentisexpectedtogrowby7.5%from2012to2022,andaddover310,000jobstoNewJersey.Thetop10occupationsareallprojectedtogrowbyover5%by2022.HomeHealthAidesandCombinedFoodPreparationandServingWorkers,includingFastFoodarebothexpectedtogainover10,000jobs.HomeHealthAidesarethelargestgrowingoccupationatover15,000andtheyalsohavethelargestpercentagegrowthatnearly49%.Thetop10occupationsareprojectedtogainatleast5,000jobs.Fiveofthetoptengrowingoccupationswerealsointhetoptenlargestoccupationsin2014.

Occupation(6digitSOC) 2012Employment

2022Employment(Projected)

ChangeinEmployment

PercentChange

HomeHealthAides 31,150 46,300 15,150 48.6%CombinedFoodPreparationandServingWorkers,IncludingFastFood

60,000 70,200 10,200 17.0%

RetailSalespersons 125,700 134,850 9,150 7.3%RegisteredNurses 79,850 88,900 9,050 11.3%NursingAssistants 51,800 60,050 8,250 16.0%LaborersandFreight,Stock,andMaterialMovers,Hand

75,750 83,350 7,600 10.1%


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ReceptionistsandInformationClerks

51,150 57,850 6,700 13.0%

SoftwareDevelopers,Applications

29,100 35,750 6,650 23.0%

CustomerServiceRepresentatives

63,450 69,550 6,100 9.6%

HeavyandTractorTrailerTruckDrivers

41,550 47,000 5,450 13.1%

Total,AllOccupations 4,149,400 4,462,550 313,150 7.5%Figure5


(iii)Employers Employment Needs.With regard to the industry sectors and occupationsidentifiedin(A)(i)and(ii),provideanassessmentoftheemploymentneedsofemployers,includingadescriptionoftheknowledge,skills,andabilitiesrequired,includingcredentialsandlicenses.

EmployersEmploymentNeedsvi,viiWhen looking at the 10 fastest growing occupations there are a wide range of educationrequirements.SoftwareDevelopers,Applicationsistheonlyoccupationofthetop10thatneedsaBachelorsDegree.RegisteredNursesrequiresanAssociatesDegreeandHeavyandTractorTrailerTruckDriversandNursingAssistantsrequireaPostsecondaryNondegreeAward.Oftheothersixoccupations,tworequireaHighSchoolDiplomaorequivalent,andtheotherfourrequirelessthanhighschooleducation.Noneoftheoccupationsrequireanyworkexperienceandthreeoccupations also do not require any job training. The seven occupations that do require jobtrainingrequireshorttermonthejobtraining.WhileRetailSalespersonshasthehighestnumberofannualjobopeningsithasthelowestpercentageofopeningsforgrowthataround18%.HomeHealthAideshasthehighestpercentageofannualopeningsforgrowthatnearly72%.SoftwareDevelopers, Applications (64.4%) is the only other occupation with an opening for growthpercentageabove50%.Occupation(6digitSOC)

AverageAnnualJobOpenings

Education WorkExperience JobTraining

HomeHealthAides 2,110 LessthanHS None ShorttermOJTCombinedFoodPreparationandServingWorkers,IncludingFastFood

3,310 LessthanHS None ShorttermOJT

RetailSalespersons 5,220 LessthanHS None ShorttermOJT

RegisteredNurses 2,450 Associate'sdegree None None


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NursingAssistants 1,810Postsecondarynondegree

awardNone None

LaborersandFreight,Stock,andMaterialMovers,Hand 3,110 LessthanHS None ShorttermOJT

ReceptionistsandInformationClerks 2,040

Highschooldiplomaorequiv.

None ShorttermOJT

SoftwareDevelopers,Applications 1,040

Bachelor'sdegree None None

CustomerServiceRepresentatives 2,340

Highschooldiplomaorequiv.

None ShorttermOJT

HeavyandTractorTrailerTruckDrivers 1,210

Postsecondarynondegree

awardNone ShorttermOJT

Figure6


Labor Insight data from BurningGlassviii also give a picture of the certifications and the keyknowledge,skills,andabilities (KSAs) thataremostdesiredbyemployerswithinNew Jerseyssevenkeyindustryclusters.Thetopdesiredcharacteristicsineachcategoryisshownbelowforeach industry.While certifications and some competencies vary by industry, there are alsomultipleKSAs,includingCommunicationSkillsandOrganizationalSkills,whichareincludedinthetopcompetenciesformostindustries.

AdvancedManufacturing HealthCareKeyCertifications:

SixSigmaProjectManagementCertificationCertifiedProductionTechnician

KeyKSAs:CommunicationSkillsOrganizationalSkillsProblemSolvingCollaborationPlanning

KeyCertifications:RegisteredNurseHomeHealthAide

CertifiedNursingAssistantKeyKSAs:

CommunicationSkills PatientCare

OrganizationalSkillsWriting

TreatmentPlanning

FinancialServices TechnologyKeyCertifications:

Series7CertifiedPublicAccountant

CertifiedFinancialPlanner(CFP)

KeyCertifications:ProjectManagementCertification

CertifiedInformationSystemsAuditorCertifiedNetworkProfessional


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KeyKSAs:CommunicationSkillsOrganizationalSkills

CashHandlingCustomerServiceMicrosoftExcel

KeyKSAs:CommunicationSkillsOrganizationalSkills

OracleSQLJava

Transportation,Logistics,and

Distribution BiopharmaceuticalandLifeScience

KeyCertifications:CommercialDriver'sLicenseForkliftOperatorCertification

AirBrakeCertificationKeyKSAs:

CommunicationSkillsOrganizationalSkills

SchedulingCustomerService

Repair

KeyCertifications:ProjectManagementCertification

SixSigmaAmericanSocietyforQualityCertification

KeyKSAs:Chemistry

ClinicalResearchProductDevelopmentRegulatoryAffairsProblemSolving

Leisure,Hospitality,andRetailTrade

KeyCertifications:ServSafeCertification

ForkliftOperatorCertificationKeyKSAs:

CommunicationSkillsCustomerServiceStoreManagement

MerchandisingandSalesMathematics

BurningGlassTechnologiesInc.,LaborInsight

LWDiscurrentlyundergoingaprocesstodefineanIndustryValuedCredentialslistthathelpstoidentify and address some of the states employers skilled workforce needs. Labormarketanalysts at LWD initially identified credentials in demand by the seven key industry clustersdiscussed above.Credential informationwill alsobe included for theUtility andConstructionindustries.ThisresearchincludedthereviewofNewJerseyspecificlabordatafrom2010through2014 and occupational employment projections through 2022. LWD identified occupationalemploymenttrendsbyindustryandwages,majoremployers,demandoccupations,anddemanddegrees/certifications.Research conductedbyestablished industryassociationswasalso incorporated to inform theprocess.TalentNetworkDirectorsassociatedwithNewJerseysmajor industriesreviewedandupdatedthedraftcredentiallistpriortomeetingswithallTalentNetworkpartners.Subsequently,


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ten industryspecificmeetings were held with those partners to solicit additional employerfeedbackandcreateapreliminarylistofindustryvaluedcredentials.Amongthetopicsdiscussedin the meetings were current credentials in demand, relevance of current labor marketinformation, and the importance of credentials in the hiring process. Expanded input fromeducators,workforceprofessionals,employersandotherswillbe solicited throughanonlinesurveydistributedbytheOfficeofResearchandInformation(ORI)throughtheTalentNetworks.(B)WorkforceAnalysis.TheUnifiedorCombinedStatePlanmustincludeananalysisofthecurrent

workforce, including individualswithbarriers toemployment,asdefined insection3ofWIOA.ThispopulationmustincludeindividualswithdisabilitiesamongothergroupsintheStateandacrossregionsidentifiedbytheState.Thisincludes:

(i) Employment and Unemployment. Provide an analysis of current employment andunemploymentdataandtrendsintheState.

EmploymentandUnemploymentix,xAsofJanuary2016,NewJerseys laborforcenumberedmorethan4.6millionworkers.Ofthisnumber,nearly4.4millionwereemployed, leavingmorethan207,000 individualsunemployedand lookingforwork,anunemploymentrateof4.5percent.Thisrate is lowerthantheUnitedStatesrateof4.9percentforthesameperiod.

NewJerseysEmploymentandUnemploymentLaborForce Employed Unemployed UnemploymentRate4,562,425 4,355,041 207,204 4.5%

Figure7

BureauofLaborStatistics,LocalAreaUnemploymentStatisticsThe laborforceparticipationratewithinthestateaveraged65.1%overtheperiod from20102015;higherthanthenationalaverageof63.6%.Thelaborforceparticipationratereferstothetotalnumberof individualsover theageof16whoareeitheremployedorunemployedandlookingfor6work.CharacteristicsofUnemploymentInsuranceClaimantsxiAsofDecember2015, therewere83,327 individualsclaimingunemploymentbenefits inNewJersey.Oftheseindividuals,nearly59.2%weremaleand40.3%female,andthegreatestportion,30.7%,were between the ages of 30 and 44.Nearly 49.1% of claimantswereWhite/Not ofHispanicOrigin,whilethosewhoareBlack/NotofHispanicOriginandHispanicrepresented18.0%and22.4%ofclaimants,respectively.Thebreakdownofunemploymentclaimantsbytheiridentifiedindustriesisdisplayedinthetablebelow.The largestportionofclaimants identifiedtheirprimary industryasAdministrativeandWasteServices(15.6%),followedbyRetailTrade(11.1%)andConstruction(10.7%).


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Industry

%oftotalreceiving

unemploymentbenefits

AdministrativeandWasteServices 15.6%RetailTrade 11.3%Construction 10.7%HeathCareandSocialAssistance 8.6%AccommodationandFoodServices 8.2%ProfessionalandTechnicalServices 5.7%Manufacturing 5.7%WholesaleTrade 5.5%TransportationandWarehousing 4.0%EducationalServices 3.6%Arts,Entertainment,andRecreation 3.1%FinanceandInsurance 2.6%OtherServicesexceptPublicAdministration 2.5%RealEstateandRentalandLeasing 1.6%PublicAdministration 1.5%Information 1.4%ManagementofCompanies 1.2%Agriculture 1.0%Utilities 0.2%Mining 0.1%Didnotidentifyaspecificindustry 5.9%

Figure8

NJDepartmentofLaborandWorkforceDevelopmentOfficeofResearchandInformation,EconomicandDemographicResearch

Looking at unemployment claimants by occupation, 17.7% of claimants identified as Servicesoccupations,followedby14.1%inOfficeandAdministrativeSupport,and11.9%inProfessionalandRelatedpositions.

Occupation%oftotalreceivingunemployment

benefitsServices 17.1%OfficeandAdministrativeSupport 14.1%ProfessionalandRelated 11.9%TransportationandMaterialMoving 11.5%ConstructionandExtraction 9.6%Management 8.6%Production 8.4%


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SalesandRelated 7.2%Installation,MaintenanceandRepair 4.2%BusinessandFinancial 3.3%Farming,FishingandForestry 0.8%Military 0.2%Didnotidentifyaspecificoccupation 2.5%

Figure9

NJDepartmentofLaborandWorkforceDevelopmentOfficeofResearchandInformation,EconomicandDemographicResearch

YouthWorkersxiiOnaveragebetween2010and2014,therewereapproximately1,027,560youthaged16to24inNew Jersey,with approximately 54.6% participating in the labor force. This ismore than 10percentagepoints lowerthanthe laborforceparticipationrateforthepopulation16yearsoldandabove, likelyduetomany inthisagegrouppursuingeducation,eithersecondaryorpostsecondary. Those youth who are participating in the labor force experience amuch higherunemploymentratethanthegenerallaborforce,with19.1%ofparticipantsaged16to24beingunemployedandlookingforwork,comparedtothemostrecentstatewideunemploymentrateof5.0%.OlderWorkersxiiiBetween2010and2014therewasanannualaverageof2,355,490individualsaged55orolderinNewJersey,withapproximately43.6%participatingintheworkforce.Thisrateislowerthanthatovertheoverallpopulation,reflectingthegradualretirementsthatbegintooccuronceaworkerentersthisagegroup.Thetablebelowshowsthedeclineinlaborforceparticipationasindividualsmoveintodifferentagebracketsamongtheolderworkergroup.

AgeGroup LaborForceParticipationUnemployment

Rate55to59 77.6% 7.6%60and61 69.4% 8.3%62to64 56.9% 8.0%65to69 38.0% 8.8%70to74 21.5% 8.4%75andolder 6.9% 7.6%Totalages55andolder 43.6% 8.0%

Figure10

U.S.CensusBureau,AmericanCommunitySurvey,20102014

Theunemploymentrateforolderworkersisgreaterthanthatofthegenerallaborforceat8.0%,comparedtothecurrentstatewideaverageof5.0%.The laborforceparticipationratedeclines


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below the statewide average beginning with the 62 to 64 age group, and sharply declinesbeginningwiththe65to69agegroup,reflectingthemostcommonretirementagerange.VeteranWorkersxivOf theover5.5million individuals from18 to64yearsold inNew Jersey,3.3%ormore than181,000areveterans.Almostaquarter(22.6%)ofveteransinthisagegrouparenotparticipatinginthe laborforce.Ofthe77.4%whoareparticipating,theunemploymentrate is7.8%,slightlyhigherthanthestatewideaverage.Onaveragefrom2010to2014thereweremorethan14,000unemployedveteransannually.Theunemployment rateofveteransvariesbyagegroup,withthoseaged18to34experiencingthehighestrateat12.6%,followedby7.6%forveteransages35to54,and6.6%forthose55to64.

Figure11

IndividualswithDisabilitiesxv,xviAccordingtotheAmericanCommunitySurvey,therewasanannualaverageofmorethan421,000individualswithdisabilitiesbetween2010and2014.Thisamountstonearly8%ofthepopulationbetweentheagesof18and64.Amongthispopulation,45%areparticipatingintheworkforce,andmorethan81%oftheseindividualsareemployed.Thisleadstoanunemploymentrateamongindividualsbetween18and64withadisabilityof19%.Forthepopulationofindividualswithdisabilitiesages16andoverwhoareemployed,thegreatestportion isemployed intheeducationalservices,healthcareandsocialassistance industry,with25.4%.Thetopfiveindustriesofemploymentarelistedbelow.

Industry%EmploymentInd.WithDisabilitiesAges

16andOverEducationalservices,andhealthcareandsocialassistance 25.4%Retailtrade 13.0%Professional,scientific,andmanagement,andadministrativeandwastemanagementservices

10.6%

12.6%

7.6% 6.6%

0%

5%

10%

15%

18to34 35to54 55to64

VeteranUnemploymentRatebyAgeGroup,20102014



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2016 Page | 18

Arts,entertainment,andrecreation,andaccommodationandfoodservices

8.7%

Manufacturing 8.3%Figure12

U.S.CensusBureau,AmericanCommunitySurvey,20102014LowincomeIndividualsxviiBetween2010and2014,theaveragepovertyrateinNewJerseywas9.5%,withjustmorethan650,000 individualswith income below the poverty level in the previous 12months.Amongindividualslivingbelowthepovertyline,43%wereparticipatinginthelaborforce,and65%(morethan185,000individuals)wereemployed.Englishlanguagelearnersxviii,xix InNewJersey,12%ofthepopulationovertheageoffiveyearsoldhasaprimarylanguageotherthanEnglishandspeaksEnglishlessthanverywell.Amongthoseindividualsaged25orolder,32%ofthelaborforcehasafirstlanguageotherthanEnglish.Amongthoseinthisagegroupwhoarenotparticipatinginthelaborforce,aslightlysmallerpercentage,28%,speakafirstlanguagethatisnotEnglish. (ii) LaborMarket Trends.Provideananalysisof key labormarket trends, includingacross

existingindustriesandoccupations.

LaborMarketTrendsxxTheunemploymentratewashigherin2015at5.6%thantenyearspriorat4.5%in2005;howeverithasbeensteadily loweringduringrecovery from therecession thatbegan in2009.Theratedroppednearlyfourpercentagepointsbetween2012and2015,andis0.3percentagepointbelowthe2008rateof5.3percentreachedbeforethestartoftherecession.Employmentandlaborforcelevelshavestayedwithinjust200,000,orroughlylessthan5%,overthesametimeperiod.Fluctuationswithinbothcorrespondwiththeeffectsoftherecession.Laborforcelevelsweregrowingfrom2008until2012.Inmanyareasofthecountry,laborforcelevelsdeclinedasunemployedworkersgrewdiscouragedandstoppedlookingforwork.ThegrowthinNewJerseycouldhavebeenduetoadditionalworkersneedingtolookforworkandjointhelaborforce due to the economic downturn. In turn, the decline in the labor force in 2012 couldcorrespondwithworkersneedingtoworklessduetotheeconomicrecovery.Employmentnumbersdecreasedastherecessionhitin2009andhitthelowpointofthelast10yearsin2010atanemploymentlevelof4,121,455.Duetothegrowinglaborforceatthetime,thiscorrespondswiththepeakunemploymentrateof9.5% inthesameyear.Employmenthasbeengenerallygrowing since the lowpoint in2010and reached4,288,825 in2015, justover24,000higherthantheemploymentlevelin2008rightbeforetheimpactoftherecession.NewJerseyhasarichlydiversepopulation,proximitytomajormetropolitanareasandahistoryofinventionandinnovationfromelectronicsandpharmaceuticalstobiotechnologyresearchthatimpressivelycontinuestogrow.NewJerseyscommitmenttoinvestment,collaborationandtalent


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development supports growth in key industry clusters that drive economic expansion. In theGardenState,thesekeyclustershavefoundanideallocationwithinadaysdriveof40percentoftheU.S.population;atalented,productiveandhighlyeducatedworkforcewithahighdensityofresidentswhopossessadvanceddegreesand52collegesanduniversities.Hereisabrieflookatsomeofthetrendsinkeyindustryclustersthatdrivethestateseconomy.

BiopharmaceuticalLifeSciencesIndustryCluster NewJerseysbiopharmaceuticallifesciencesclusteremploymenttotaledover115,000in

2014,or3.5percentofthestatesprivatesectorworkers.Nationally,theproportionwasjust1.9percent.

New Jerseys biopharmaceutical and life sciences cluster employment is comprised ofthreeprimary components:pharmaceutical sector (45.0%),biotechnology (34.5%) andmedicaldevicemanufacturing(20.5%).In2014,thestatespharmaceuticalsemploymentaccountedfor8.9percentofpharmaceuticalsjobholdingintheU.S.

Establishments totaled over 3,100 in 2014. Despite recent reorganizations bypharmaceutical firms, the drug and pharmaceutical components establishment countincreasedbetween2009and2014by8.8percent,slightlyslowerthanthenation(+10.5%)overthesameperiod.

NewJerseybiopharmaceuticallifescienceemployerspaidover$15billioninwagesduring2014,or8.1percentofthestatestotalwages.

Thestateshighlyeducatedworkforceisseeninthisclusterasmorethanthreefifths(63%)of its workers statewide hold a Bachelors degree or higher: Bachelors (29%),Masters/Professional(25%),Doctoral(8%)degree.

3,800,000

3,900,000

4,000,000

4,100,000

4,200,000

4,300,000

4,400,000

4,500,000

4,600,000

4,700,000

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

EmploymentandLaborForce,20052015

Employment LaborForce

BureauofLaborStatistics,LocalAreaUnemploymentStatisticsFigure13


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Transportation,Logistics,DistributionIndustryCluster In2014,transportation,logisticsanddistribution(TLD)employed360,618workersinNew

Jersey.Theclusteremployed11.0percentofthestatesprivatesectorworkers,ahigherpercentagethanforthenation(8.8%).

TLDcontributedmorethan$55.5billiontothestatesRealGrossDomesticProduct(GDPchained2009dollars)in2014.

In2014,employersinthestatesTLDindustryclusterpaidmorethan$25.8billionintotalwages.

LocatedbetweenNewYorkCityandPhiladelphia,NewJerseyiswithinadaysdriveof40percentoftheU.S.population.

NewJerseyoffersaccesstothenationsfreightrailnetworkandisalsohometoseveralkey transportation facilitiesnecessary fora strongTLD industry cluster including threemajorseaportsandalargeinternationalairport.

According to 2013 figures (latest available) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,WaterborneCommerceStatisticsCenter,NewJerseysshippingactivityaccountsfor6.5percentofthenationstonnageoftotalcargovolume.

FinancialServicesIndustryCluster

Despite a relatively smallemploymentbase (5.3%ofNew Jerseys totalprivate sectoremploymentin2014)financeandinsurancecontributedalmost$35billionorroughlyeightpercenttothestatesRealGrossDomesticProductin2014.

AccordingtotheNJBusiness&IndustryAssociation,15ofthestatestop84employersare finance and insurance firms whose combined employment represents almost 41percentofjobholdinginthefinanceandinsuranceindustrysector.

Thefinancialservicessectorreliesheavilyoninformationandtechnology.NewJerseyhasremainedintheforefrontoftechnologicaladvancementbybecominganationalleaderindevelopingdatacenterstosupporttheindustry.Ofalmost50datacenterslocatedinthestate,roughlyhalfarelocatedinHudsonCounty.(Source:datacentermap.com)

In 2014, almost $20.3 billion in totalwageswere paid byNew Jerseys employers infinancialservicesindustries.

ThegreatestconcentrationofjobswithinthefinancialservicesindustryclusterisfoundinHudsonCounty(17.1%).

AdvancedManufacturingIndustryCluster

Theadvancedmanufacturingclustercontributedover$31.8billiontoNewJerseysRealGrossDomesticProductin2013,orabout6.3percentofallstateoutput(latestavailablefromtheU.S.BureauofEconomicAnalysis).

Advancedmanufacturing employment is primarily comprised of five industry groups:chemical manufacturing (30%), food manufacturing (19%), computer and electronicproduct manufacturing (14%), fabricated metal manufacturing (12%) and machinerymanufacturing(9%).Theremaining15percentismadeupofselecteddetailedindustries.

In 2014, there were 159,900 people employed in industries classified as advancedmanufacturing in New Jersey, or about 67 percent of manufacturing employmentstatewide.


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Chemical manufacturing industries, the clusters largest segment, employed roughly48,700 in2014,or20.3percentofallmanufacturingworkers in the state.The statesjobholding in chemical manufacturing represents 6.1 percent of U.S. chemicalmanufacturingemployment.

The statesadvancedmanufacturing industryestablishmentspaida totalofmore than$14.5billioninwagesin2014,orroughly7.4percentofNewJerseystotalwages.

Note:Thedefinitionoftheadvancedmanufacturingclusterwasexpandedin2014toreflectnewmethodologyusedbyLWD.HealthCareIndustryCluster

Thehealthcareclustercontributedover$35billiontoNewJerseysRealGrossDomesticProduct(GDP)in2013,orroughly7percentofallstateoutput(latestavailablefromtheU.S.BureauofEconomicAnalysis).

Healthcareclusteremploymentiscomprisedofthreeindustrygroups:ambulatoryhealthcareservices(46%),hospitals(33%)andnursingandresidentialcarefacilities(21%).

From1990through2014,thehealthcaresector inNewJerseyhasadded191,600newjobs,whileallotherindustriescombinedhadanetgainofonly135,500.

Healthcare is theonly industry thathasadded jobs in thestateeveryyear from1990through2014while increasing itsshareof jobholding from7.5percent in1990 to11.7percentin2014.

TheoutlookforNewJerseyshealthcareemploymentisbright.From2012through2022,itisprojectedthatmorethan88,600jobswillbeadded,anannualincreaseof2.0percent.

Healthcareestablishmentemployerspaidmorethan$24.1billionintotalwagesin2014,orabout12.3percentofallwagespaidstatewide.

TechnologyIndustryCluster

In2014,NewJerseystechnologyclusteraccountedfor359,704 jobsor11.0percentofprivate sector employment statewide. Nationally the cluster was responsible for 9.6percentofallprivatesectoremployment.

Theannualaveragewageforthetechnologyclusterwas$103,797in2014or173percentofthestatewideaverage($60,146)forallindustries.Employersintheindustrypaidover$41billioninwages,orabout21percentofthetotalwagespaidinallindustries.

Employmentwithin the technologyclustercanprimarilybe foundwithin the followingsectors: professional, scientific and technical services (48.6%),manufacturing (19.2%),wholesaletrade(15.9%),andinformation(14.2%).

The technology cluster is supported by the strength ofNew Jerseys highly educatedworkforceasover93percentofNew Jerseyanswithin theclusterhaveachievedsomelevelofcollegeeducationorhigher.Almost77percentholdaBachelorsdegreeorhigher.

Leisure,HospitalityandRetailIndustryCluster

Leisure,hospitalityandretail(LHR)iscomprisedoffourcomponents:retailtrade(56.0%of employment); food services/drinking places (30.1%); arts/entertainment/recreation(7.3%)andaccommodation(6.6%).


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2016 Page | 22

ManyofthebusinesseswithinLHRareintertwinedwiththestatestourismindustry,whichdirectly supported 315,952 jobs in 2014. According to the NJ Division of Travel andTourism,thestategeneratedarecordbreaking$42.1billionintourismdemandin2014.

LHRcontributed$46.1billion(or9.1%)tothestatesRealGrossDomesticProductin2014. LHR jobholding totaled 806,044 in 2014, or 24.7 percent of the states private sector

workers. NewJerseyLHRemployerspaidover$22billioninwagesduring2014,or11.6percentof

thestatetotal.TheaverageannualwagefortheLHRclusterin2014was$28,146. Overonequarter(28.5%)ofallemployment intheLHRcluster isconcentrated inthree

counties: Bergen, Monmouth and Middlesex. Atlantic County ranks fourth for LHRemploymentduemainlytothepresenceofitscasinohotelindustry.

Dueprimarilytotheirtourismbasedeconomies,overhalfofprivatesectoremploymentinCapeMay(54.6%)andAtlantic(54.2%)countiesisconcentratedintheLHRcluster.

(iii)EducationandSkillLevelsoftheWorkforce.Provideananalysisoftheeducationalandskill

levelsoftheworkforce.

EducationandSkillLevelsoftheWorkforcexxiAccordingtothefiveyearestimatesoftheU.S.CensusBureausAmericanCommunitySurvey,thecivilian labor force inNew Jersey has included an average of nearly fourmillion participantsannually.Over65%oftheselaborforceparticipantshavereceivedsomelevelofpostsecondaryeducation,with25%attendingsomecollegeorreceivinganAssociatesdegreeand42%holdingaBachelorsdegreeorhigher.ThisisamuchgreaterpercentageofindividualswhoholdBachelorsdegrees or higher than the national average, which shows that 34% of adult labor forceparticipantsnationallyhaveachievedthislevelofhighereducation.Whenanalyzedamongthepopulationsofthosewhoareemployedandunemployedindividually,the levelsofeducationalattainmentareshiftedslightly.Amongemployedworkers,the largestportion,43.5%holdaBachelorsdegreeorhigher.Thosegroupsholdingahighschooldegreeandthosewithsome levelofpostsecondaryeducationorAssociatesdegreeeachrepresentabout25%ofemployedworkers.Amongthosewhoareunemployed,thedistributionshiftsslightlymore.The largestportionofunemployedworkersarefoundinthecategoryofthosewhosehighestlevelofeducationisahighschooldiplomaorequivalency,with34%.


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2016 Page | 23

(iv)Describeapparentskillgaps.

EducationLevelsoftheCivilianLaborForce,Ages2564,Employedvs.Unemployed

UnemployedEmployed


7.6%

25.3%

25.1%

41.9%

EducationLevelsoftheCivilianLaborForce,Ages2564

LessthanHS

HSDegreeorEquiv.

SomecollegeorAssociate'sDegree

Bachelor'sdegreeorhigher


Figure14

Figure15


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2016 Page | 24

SkillGapsxxiiAccording todata analyzedwith EMSIAnalyst, there areprojected tobemore than136,000openingsannuallyoverthenexttenyears.TheoccupationalgroupsprojectedtohavethehighestnumbersofannualopeningsareOfficeandAdministrativeSupport,SalesandRelated,andFoodPreparationandServingRelatedOccupations,representingnearly50,000jobopeningseachyear.

OccupationGroup AnnualOpenings20152025

MostRequiredEducationLevelxxiii

OfficeandAdministrativeSupport 18,991 HSorEquiv(89.8%)SalesandRelated 16,666 LessthanHS(68.5%)FoodPreparationandServingRelated 14,317 LessthanHS(93.2%)TransportationandMaterialMoving 10,360 LessthanHS(61.6%)HealthcarePractitionersandTechnical 7,906 Associatesdegree(41.3%)Education,Training,andLibrary 7,308 Bachelorsdegree(55.1%)BusinessandFinancialOperations 6,811 Bachelorsdegree(79.1%)Management 6,192 Bachelorsdegree(77.7%)PersonalCareandService 5,753 HSorEquiv(45.9%)HealthcareSupport 5,487 Postsecondarynondegree

award(53.9%)Figure16

EMSIAnalyst,2015

Nearly37%ofallannualopeningsbetween2015and2025willrequire lessthanaHighSchooldegree,whileanadditional32%willrequirejustaHighSchooldiplomaorequivalency.ThoughNewJerseyboastshigherthanaverageeducationalattainment levels,manyofthe jobopeningsthatareprojectedoverthenexttenyearswillrequire lessthanaBachelorsdegree.Whilemuchofthisimbalanceislikelyduetothenormalturnoverinlowerskilledpositions,somecouldpointtoaskillsgapamonglowandmiddleskillpositions.


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EMSIAnalyst,2015SETCandNJBIAEmployabilitySkillsTaskForceandStakeholderGroupsSkillsgapscansimplybedefinedastheseparationbetweenwhatemployersneedandtheskillsthatjobseekerspossess.TheNewJerseyBusinessandIndustryAssociation(NJBIA)conductedasurveyof2,000employersrepresentingallsectors.Therecurringtheme;employerswantworkersthatpossessemployabilityskills.Employabilityskills,oftencalledsoftorcareerreadinessskills,refertoaclusterofpersonalbehaviors,habitsandattitudesthataredemonstratedbyasuccessfulemployee.WhileNewJerseyalreadyboastsahighlyeducatedworkforce,thestatesincumbentworkers,jobseekersandstudentsmustpossessandbuildontheseskillsforlastingandmeaningfulemployment.TheSETCestablishedtheEmployabilitySkillsTaskForceinNovember2013tolaunchastatewidecampaign to raise awareness by engaging stakeholders in dialogues and creating an actionoriented solution through aCall toAction. Stakeholder groups from acrossNew Jerseys keyindustries, business groups, faith and communitybased organizations, government entities,organized labor,andworkforceprofessionalsheldmeetingsanddiscussionson this issue.Thestakeholdergroupsselfidentifiedtheircurrentandongoinginitiativesofincorporatingwhathasbeendefinedasemployabilityskillsintheircurriculaasappropriate.Whiletheeffortremainsongoing,thestakeholdergroupshavecommittedtotheEmployabilitySkills Task Force to raise awareness of the crisis, share solutions and focus efforts, leverageresources,andinformintelligenceasnationalthoughtleadersonaddressingemployabilityskillsgaps.TheNJBIAincollaborationwithkeypartnersareplanningaspring2016eventfocusedontheEmployabilitySkillsCalltoAction.NJBIAisalsoincorporatingtoolsandguidesforemployers

37%

32%

1%

7%

4%

16%

1% 2%

EducationLevelsRequiredforProjectedAnnualOpenings,20152025

Lessthanhighschool

Highschooldiplomaorequivalent

Somecollege,nodegree

Postsecondarynondegreeaward

Associate'sdegree

Bachelor'sdegree

Master'sdegree

Doctoralorprofessionaldegree

Figure17


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2016 Page | 26

andpartnersthatfocusonreturnoninvestment(ROI)andbestpracticesmodels.TheefforttominimizetheskillsgaparoundemployabilityskillsremainsapriorityforNewJersey.(2)WorkforceDevelopmentEducationandTrainingActivitiesAnalysisThe Unified or Combined State Planmust include an analysis of theworkforce development

activities,includingeducationandtrainingintheState,toaddresstheeducationandskillneedsoftheworkforce,asidentifiedin(a)(1)(B)(iii)above,andtheemploymentneedsofemployers,asidentifiedin(a)(1)(A)(iii)above.Thismustincludeananalysisof

(A)TheStatesWorkforceDevelopmentActivities.Provideananalysisof theStatesworkforcedevelopmentactivities, includingeducationandtrainingactivitiesofthecoreprograms,CombinedStatePlanpartnerprograms included in thisplan,andrequiredandoptionalonestopdeliverysystempartners.

WhoWeServe:AProfileofWorkforceCustomersinNewJerseyWorkforceInvestmentAct(WIA)dollars(nowmovingtoWIOAfunds)supportemploymentandtrainingservicesforafullrangeofNewJerseyresidents.Thefollowingisaprofileofthenearly200,000customersservedbytheNewJerseyEmploymentServicesstatewidenetworkofOneStop Career Centers, funded throughWIA Title III and theWagnerPeyser Act each year. Abreakdownofspecialpopulationsisalsoprovided,highlightingservicesofferedunderWIATitleI(foryouth,dislocatedworkers,andadultjobseekers);TitleII(adulteducationandliteracy);andTitleIV(VocationalRehabilitation).OVERVIEWEMPLOYMENTSERVICESWIATitleIIIamendedtheWagnerPeyserActin1998toofferEmploymentService/JobServiceactivitiesthroughtheOneStopsystem.Inthemostrecentprogramyear,NewJerseysEmploymentServicesreached196,000customersservingnearlyequalnumbersofmenandwomen(SeeFigure18below).Notablecharacteristicsoftheseworkforcesystemparticipantsinclude:

ClosetohalfofallEmploymentServicecustomersareage45yearsorolder.PolicyChallenge:Helping significantnumbersofolder jobseekerschangecareerpaths,changeindustries,andobtainnewskills.

60%havenopostsecondaryeducationbeyondhighschool.PolicyChallenge:Connectingjobseekerstocredentialsthatwillgivethemthehigherlevelskillsrequiredtoaccessmanyoccupations.

Theracial/ethnicprofileofEmploymentServicecustomersis43%white,28%AfricanAmerican,and15%HispaniccomparedtotheoverallNewJerseycivilianworkforcein2015whichwas75%white,14%AfricanAmerican,and18%Hispanic.PolicyChallenge:Employmentandtrainingprogramsmustaddresslanguageandculturalbarriersthatlimitjobopportunitiesformanyjobseekers.Asimplisticonesizefitsalljobsearchstrategycannotservetheneedsofacustomerbasethisdiverse.


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NewJerseyWorkforceSystemParticipantsProfile

ParticipantDescription Count %ofTotal Total 196,696 100.0Veterans&Eligibles 10,152 5.2Personw/Disability 3,540 1.8EmploymentStatus@RegistrationEmployed 24,833 12.6Unemployed 171,863 87.4UIClaimant 107,204 54.5SexMale 94,259 47.9Female 98,429 50.0Undisclosed 4,008 2.0AgeUnder18 1,646 0.81844 103,048 52.44554 49,431 25.155+ 41,636 21.1Race/EthnicAfricanAmerican 55,746 28.3American/AlaskanNative 1,142 0.6Asian 7,802 4.0Hispanic 29,431 15.0Hawaiian/PacificIslander 647 0.3White 83,900 42.7EducationLevelInSchool 12,183 6.2LessthanHS 17,440 8.9HSGrad/GED 100,922 51.3PostSecondary 75,300 38.3

Source:June2015ETA9002AFigure18

WIATITLEI:Youth/Adults/DislocatedWorkersTitleIsetsperformancestandardsandeligibilitycriteriaforabroadarrayoftrainingservicesforyouth,adults,anddislocatedworkers.ItencompassesnumerousprogramsincludingtheJobCorps;VeteransWorkforceInvestmentprograms;YouthOpportunitygrantsforhighpoverty


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2016 Page | 28

areas;technicalassistanceeffortstoStatesandlocalareas;programevaluations;andNationalEmergencygrants.WagnerPeyserfundscoverthemajorityofcostsforprovidingemploymentandtrainingservicesto jobseekers inNew Jersey (Figure19below).WIATitle Iprogramscovered16,438 (14%)of116,000participatingadults,youthanddislocatedworkersinthepastyear.PolicyChallenge:WiththeWorkforceInnovation&OpportunityActextendingYouthservicestoage24andshiftingtheemphasisfrom InSchooltoOutofSchoolyoungadults,thenumberofindividualscoveredbyTitleIfundsislikelytoincreaseinthefuture.

WIATitleIParticipantsServedandExitedbyProgramAreaProgram

ParticipantsServed

ParticipantsExited

%ExitedtoServed

Adult 5,505 2,586 47.0%DislocatedWorkers 6,177 3,963 64.2%

Youth 4,756 2,100 44.2%Total 16,438 8,649 52.6%

Figure19

NewJerseyParticipationLevels(AdultsServedwithTitleI+WagnerPeyserFunds)

TotalParticipantsServed TotalExiters

TotalAdults 116,330 102,612WIAAdult5,505 2,586WIADislocatedWorkers 6,177 3,963TotalYouth(1421) 4,756 2,100

YoungerYouth(1418) 3,579 1,556OlderYouth(1921) 1,177 544

OutofSchoolYouth 2,032 982InSchoolYouth 2,724 1,118WIATITLEII:ADULTEDUCATION&LITERACYTitleIIprogramshelpadultsage16oroldertoreachhigherlevelsofliteracyinordertoobtainemployment, retain employment, enter postsecondary education or occupational training, orattainahighschooldiploma(oritsequivalent).Adulteducationisprovidedtohelpadultsincreasetheireducationalfunctioninglevelswhilepreparingthemforsuccessfullyenteringtheworkforce.AsFigure20belowindicates,71%ofNewJerseysparticipantsarebetweentheagesof25and59.ThemajorityofthestudentsservedintheTitleIIprogramdonothaveahighschooldiplomaor


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2016 Page | 29

itsequivalent.NewJerseyallows itsTitleIIprogramstoserve2%oftheirstudentswhohaveahighschooldiploma.

WIATitleIIprogramsinFiscalYear2015servedmorethan21,000customers,morethanhalfofwhom are participants in English Language Acquisition (ELA) programs. The newWorkforceInnovation&OpportunityAct(WIOA)definesELAsasprogramstohelpEnglishlanguagelearnersto improvereading,writing,andspeakingskills inorderto1)obtainahighschooldiploma(orequivalent)and2)transitiontopostsecondaryeducationandtrainingoremployment.Womenoutnumbermen2to1inNewJerseysELAprograms.

The states secondlargest literacy enrollment is in Adult Basic Education (ABE), a refresherprogram inreadingandwritingforstudentswhosetestscoresaretoo lowtogainentrancetopostsecondary trainingor education courses. ABE services account fornearly 40%of Title IIparticipants.

ThesmallestTitleIIenrollment(5%)isinAdultSecondaryEducation(ASE)programssuchastheNationalExternalDiplomaand theAdultHighSchoolCreditDiplomawhicharedesigned forstudentsage16yearsandolderwhodonotcompletehighschool.

TotalnumberofpeopleservedbyTitleIIprogramsinthemostrecentyear

FY2015Totalserved21,692 Totalnumberservedmale9,954 Totalnumberservedfemale11,740

Numberofpeopleservedinkeyprogramactivities LiteracyAdultBasicEducation(ABE)8,507 (Male5,479;Female3,028) LiteracyAdultSecondaryEducation(ASE)1,126 (Male803;Female323) LiteracyEnglishLanguageAcquisition(ELA)12,061 (Male3,672;Female8,389)

TitleIIBreakdownofpeopleservedbyAge Age1624male2,817 Age1624female2,117 Age2559male6,700 Age2559female8,886 Age60+male437 Age60+female737

Figure20

WIATITLEIV:VOCATIONALREHABILITATIONWIA Title IV helps peoplewith disabilities to access state and localworkforce developmentsystems,andreturntotheworkforce.Inanygivenyear,anaverageof31,000individualswithdisabilitiesareservedbyNewJerseysDivisionofVocationalRehabilitationServices(DVRS)underTitle IV. Since individual casesmay go on for several years at a time, cases open and closeconstantly.Newcasesaddedinthepastyeartotaled13,813.


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Informationregardingage,sexandeducationlevelsareavailableon3,818ofthe31,000TitleIVcustomers(seeFigure21below).NotablefeaturesoftheTitleIVparticipantsinclude:

Closeto20%havenopostsecondarydegree,certificate,orhighschooldiploma Nearly50%havenotrainingbeyondhighschool

PolicyChallenge: Improve trainingopportunities across all age groups tomeet the rising skillrequirementsofevenbasicentryleveloccupations.1) NumberofpeoplewithdisabilitiesservedbyTitleIVprograms:31,6322) Numberofnewcasesopenedinpastyear:13,813 Fourlargestprogramactivities:

Assessments: 6,721MiscellaneousTraining: 1,592Transportation: 923RehabilitationTechnology: 1,019

3) BreakdownofpeopleservedbyAge/Sex/Educationlevel:profileof3818cases

HighschoolorEquivalentCertification

Age

022 2345

4665 66100 Total%Male 398 411 248 25 28%

Female 214 271 234 39 19%

AssociateDegreeandHigher

Age 022 2345

4665 66100 Total%Male 38 194 120 15 10%

Female 31 194 170 15 11%

Vocational/TechnicalCertificateorSpecialEducationAge 022 2345 4665 66100 Total%

Male 184 113 19 317 8%Female 82 66 36 184 5%

Other(nodegreecertificateordiploma)19%Figure21


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2016 Page | 31

Thefigurebelowprovidesdetailregardingservicesrenderedfornewcasesinafederalyear.Thetypical length of time aDVRS case is open is approximately 26months, and counselors seeconsumersovermanymonthsbeforecasesareclosed.Atypicalcounselormaintainsanaverageof175to200opencasesandseesconsumersintheircaseloadovertheentiretimeacaseremainsopen.ParticipantDescription Count %ofTotal Total 1933 100.00%Veterans 54 2.79% EmploymentStatusatApplication NotReported\NotAvailable 58 3.00%CompetitiveIntegratedEmploymentw/Supports 31 1.60%CompetitiveIntegratedEmployment 290 15.00%ExtendedEmployment 5 0.26%Homemaker 2 0.10%NotEmployed:Allotherstudents 74 3.83%NotEmployed:Other 523 27.06%NotEmployed:StudentSecondaryEducation 63 3.26%NotEmployed:Trainee,InternorVolunteer 8 0.41%SelfEmployment(ExceptBEP) 1 0.05%BusinessEnterpriseProgram(BEP) 28 1.45%UnpaidFamilyWorker 4 0.21%NotWorking 845 43.71%Employed:ReceivednoticeofterminationorWARN 1 0.05%

Total 1933 Sex Male 1141 59.03%Female 791 40.92%Doesnotwishtoselfidentify 1 0.05%

Total 1933 AgeatApplication 1418 202 10.45%1921 332 17.18%2244 860 44.49%4554 292 15.11%55+ 247 12.78%

Total 1933 Race/Ethnic


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BlackorAfricanAmerican 636 32.90%American/AlaskanNative 35 1.81%Asian 49 2.53%Hispanic 245 12.67%Hawaiian/PacificIslander 10 0.52%White 938 48.53%Infonotavailable 20 1.03%

TotalResponses 1933 EducationLevel NotReported 139 7.19%NoSchooling 5 0.26%Elementary 15 0.78%Postsecondaryeducation,nodegree 185 9.57%SpecialEd(completionorattendance) 196 10.14%Highschoolgraduateorequivalencycertificate 902 46.66%Secondaryeducation,noHSdiploma 237 12.26%Vocational/TechnicalCertificateorLicense 34 1.76%BachelorsDegree 111 5.74%Masters+ 21 1.09%PostSecondary/AssociatesDegree 86 4.45%Occ.CredentialBeyondUndergraduateDegreeWork 2 0.10%

Total 1933 Figure22

NewJerseyhasutilizedtheoptioninFederallawallowingVocationalRehabilitationservicesfortheblind,visionimpaired,anddeafblindtobedeliveredbyaseparateentityfromthatservingotherindividualswithdisabilities.TheCommissionfortheBlindandVisuallyImpaired(CBVI)isthedesignatedstateunitresponsible fordeliveringhighqualityemploymentservices to theseparticipants. The agency is locatedwithinNew JerseysDepartment ofHuman Services andprovidesacontinuumofservicestoindividualswithvisionlossthroughoutthelifespan,includingservicesleadingtocompetitive,integratedemploymentforyouthandadultswithdisabilities. ConsistentwiththerequirementsofWIOA,CBVIiscommittedthroughitsarrayofprogrammingtohelpingitsparticipantsprepareforemploymentoutcomesthatleadtoacareerpathway.Theagencysupportsanumberofpostsecondarytrainingandeducation initiatives, includingpostsecondarycertificateprograms,twoandfouryearprogramsleadingtoundergraduatedegrees,andgraduatedegreeprograms.Inaddition,theagencyoperatesaresidentialtrainingcenterinNew Brunswick called the Joseph Kohn Training Center providing a 20week program ofinstruction for adults preparing forwork in various core curriculum areas, including skills ofindependence, computer skills, career exploration, soft skills, and community based workexperiences.


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CBVIParticipantProfile

ParticipantDescription Count %ofTotal Total 3853 100.0%Veterans 62 1.6% EmploymentStatusatApplication NotReported 142 3.7%Employment with Supports in IntegratedSetting 58 1.5%Employment without Supports in IntegratedSetting 1386 36.0%ExtendedEmployment 1 0.0%Homemaker 31 0.8%NotEmployed:Allotherstudents 106 2.8%NotEmployed:Other 1676 43.5%NotEmployed:StudentSecondaryEducation 345 9.0%NotEmployed:Trainee,InternorVolunteer 9 0.2%SelfEmployment(ExceptBEP) 63 1.6%BusinessEnterpriseProgram(BEP) 28 0.7%UnpaidFamilyWorker 8 0.2% Sex Male 2063 53.5%Female 1790 46.5% AgeatApplication 1418 848 22.0%1921 193 5.0%2244 1040 29.0%4554 886 23.0%55+ 886 23.0% Race/Ethnic AfricanAmerican 786 20.0%American/AlaskanNative 20 0.5%Asian 197 5.0%Hispanic 550 14.0%Hawaiian/PacificIslander 19 0.5%White 2358 60.0%TotalResponses 3930 100.0%


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EducationLevel NotReported 19 0.5%NoSchooling 19 0.5%Elementary 169 4.4%Grades912nodiploma 732 19.0%SpecialEducationCertificate 351 9.1%HighSchoolGraduate 1195 31.0%Postsecondarynodegree 55 1.4%AssociatesDegree/VocTech 208 5.4%BachelorsDegree 462 12.0%Masters+ 143 3.7% Source:LastreportingperiodunderWIA

Figure23

(B) TheStrengthsandWeaknessesofWorkforceDevelopmentActivities.Provideananalysisofthestrengthsandweaknessesof theworkforcedevelopmentactivities identified in (A),directlyabove.

NewJerseyisinafortunatepositionduetotheexistingstatewidecoordinationandcollaborationamong the system partners as outlined in great detail in Section III onOperational PlanningElements,withinsection(C)Coordination,AlignmentandProvisionofServicestoIndividuals.Inparticular,staffareworkingtomoredeeply integrateWIOATitle I,Title IIandWagnerPeyserwithin the OneStop system, providing extensive crosstraining, capacity building andcoordination activities under the guidance of the Department of Labor and WorkforceDevelopment. Specifically, the strengths of workforce development activities in New Jerseyinclude:

Strong IndustryPartnerships:NewJerseysTalentNetworksarebuildingcrossprogram,crossagencyandregionalapproachestoprovide industrydrivenservicestoNewJerseybusinessesandjobseekers.Acrossdepartments,NewJerseyisfocusinginvestmentsandprogramsonbuildingemployerdriven,highqualitypartnershipsthat followacommondefinitionandframework.Thesepartnershipsarecriticaltobuildingnewcareerpathwaysforjobseekersandstudentsandhelpincreasethenumberofindividualswithanindustryvaluedpostsecondarydegreeorcredential.Tofurthersupporttheseefforts,thestatesseven industryfocused Talent Networkswill facilitate the development of new highquality, employerdriven partnerships across the state; investments in new TargetedIndustryPartnershipsandTalentDevelopmentCenterswillbuildafoundationforallofthestatesworkforcedevelopmentinvestments.

FocusonCredentials:NewJerseyscommitmenttodeliveringindustryvaluedcredentialsforworkersandtherelatedpoliciescreatinganIndustryValuedCredentialListtoguideworkforcetrainingandimprovementstothealreadystrongEligibleTrainingProviderListthat includeahigher IndividualTrainingAccount (ITA)amountbasedon theexpected


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earningsandindustryrelevanceoftraining. BroadPartnershipforCareerNavigation:NewJerseysCareerConnectionsservicedelivery

model,networkofpartnersanddigitalplatformisrevisioninghowwedeliverservicestojobseekers.CareerConnectionsisanewdigitalplatformthatprovidestheprimarytoolforPublicLaborExchangeaswellascareerguidanceinformationandjobsearchstrategies.Itwillbeauniformplatform forallpartners, includingOneStopCareerCenters,DVRSoffices, localpublic libraries,communitycollegesandworkforceproviders, tousewiththeirclientsforstandardizingassessment,careerguidance,careerplanning,selectionoftraining,andjobsearchassistance,andtoeasilyconnectwiththeprogramsandservicesavailablethroughthetalentdevelopmentnetworks.Allcorepartnersandotherprogrampartnerswillbeabletoaddcontenttothesitethroughacontentapprovalprocess.Thismultifunctionalplatformwillbesupportedbymorethan900staffstatewidewhohaveparticipatedinaunifiedcareernavigatortrainingcurriculumasdescribedelsewhereinthisPlan.

NewJerseysworkforcesystemhasanumberofchallenges.Thesearecurrentlybeingaddressedthrough strategies,programsand investments thataredescribed throughout thisPlan.Thesechallengesinclude:

Need toStrengthenCoordination inOneStopCareerCenters: IfNew Jersey is to trulycreateanefficientandeffectiveOneStopCareerCentersystem,wewillneedtoensureahigher level of consistent coordination between all partners in the OneStop CareerCenters. In the implementation of WIA, the State decided that the roles andresponsibilities of state and local staff should vary from one location to the next inresponse to local needs. This State Plan clearly defines roles and responsibilities ofEmploymentServicesandWIOATitleIstaffandtakesclearstepstocreatealocallydrivenOneStopCareerCentersystem.Inaddition,movingforward,stateinitiativeswillfocusonservingcustomerswhoareindividualswithbarrierstoemploymentasidentifiedinWIOASec.3(24).Inparticular,itwillbegroupsthathavebeentraditionallyunderservedbythelocalareas toavoidduplicationofeffort.At the local level, therehasbeen inadequatecoordinationamongpartnerprograms.Customersgenerally receive fundingunderoneprogram; if referred toapartnerprogram, servicesarenotprovidedconcurrently.Forexample,customersreferredbyWIOATitleIcounselorstoAdultEducationservicesdonotreceiveanyTitle IservicesuntiltheyhavecompletedtheAdultEducationservices.TheSETCandtheWIOAOfficeofTechnicalAssistanceandCapacityBuildingwillbeengagedinprovidingtechnicalassistancetolocalareasondevelopingstrong,meaningfulMOUsthatwilldescribe coordinationof service. Theywill alsoprovide,usingbestpractices fromaroundthenation,assistanceregardinghowpartnerscancommunicatewithoneanotherwhileconcurrentlyservingcustomers.

NeedtoStrengthenProfessionalDevelopmentforStaff:Inarapidlychanginglabormarketandeconomy,staffwhoareservingcustomersmusthaveuptodateskillsanduptodateknowledge and information. Traditionally, New Jersey has not developed and


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implementedformalprofessionaldevelopmentprogramsforfrontlinestaff.Instead,NewJerseyhasreliedonaseriesofinformaltrainingefforts.NewJerseyhasbeguntoaddressthisneedthroughthelaunchoftheCareerConnectionsinitiativeandhasprovidedaonedaycareernavigationtrainingprogramto900state,localandpartnerstaffstatewide.LWDhascreatedtheWIOAOfficeofTechnicalAssistanceandCapacityBuildingthatiscurrentlydevelopingaplanforexpandingprofessionaldevelopmentforstaff.

(C)StateWorkforceDevelopmentCapacity.ProvideananalysisofthecapacityofStateentitiestoprovidetheworkforcedevelopmentactivitiesidentifiedin(A),above.

AsoutlinedinSectionIVandothersectionsofthissubmission,NewJerseyhasbuiltastrongstaffcapacity todeliverworkforcedevelopmentactivities. Somehighlightsofourcapacityand theworkdonetoimproveandmaintainastrongcollaborativesystemincludethefollowing.

1. NewJerseysfrontlineservicedeliverystafffundedbyWIOAprogramsacrossthestateareoneofourgreateststrengths(itemabove)andakeytoourcapacitytodeliverhighqualityprograms. Thework of our strong staff across allWIOA Titles is supported by ongoingprofessionaldevelopment and staff training activities. WIOA Title I, Employment Service,AdultEducationandotherstaffwillparticipateinprofessionaldevelopmentthatisprovideddirectlyby,orcoordinatedby,theWIOAOfficeofTechnicalAssistanceandCapacityBuilding.Professionaldevelopmentwillutilizemultipledeliverymodestoreachparttimeandotherhardtoreachstaff.Thisincludesamixofinpersonmeetings,synchronousonlineeventsandresourcesmadeavailableonline.KeytoallofthisprofessionaldevelopmentsystemwillbetherequirementthatWorkforceDevelopmentBoardsconductjointplanningandtrainingforOneStop,adultliteracyandWDBstaffdirectedtowardestablishingpartnerships,resourcesharingand appropriate and necessary student referrals. Additionally, professional developmentresources will bemade available to all OneStop Career Center staff through theWIOATechnicalAssistancewebpage.LWDalsowillincorporatetrainingopportunitiesforOneStopstaffrelatingtheprovisionofservicestoindividualswithdisabilities,incoordinationwithDVRSandCBVI.

2. SETCandLWDmaintainacomprehensivelistingofstatewidepoliciesandguidanceissuedtolocalareasandpartnersfortheuseofStatefundsfromworkforceinvestmentactivities.StatepoliciescanbeaccessedonlineattheSETCandLWDwebsites.WiththeimplementationofWIOA, SETC and LWDhavebeenworking to andwill continue toupdate existingpoliciesand/or establish new policies to be in compliance with the Workforce Innovation andOpportunityActasneeded.


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(b)StateStrategicVisionandGoalsThe Unified or Combined State Planmust include the States strategic vision and goals for

developingitsworkforceandmeetingemployerneedsinordertosupporteconomicgrowthandeconomicselfsufficiency.Thismustinclude

(1)Vision.DescribetheStatesstrategicvisionforitsworkforcedevelopmentsystem.(2)Goals.Describethegoals forachievingthisvisionbasedontheanalysis in (a)aboveofthe

Stateseconomicconditions,workforce,andworkforcedevelopmentactivities.Thismustinclude

(A)Goals for preparing an educated and skilledworkforce, including preparing youth andindividualswithbarrierstoemploymentandotherpopulations.

(B)Goalsformeetingtheskilledworkforceneedsofemployers.

STRATEGICAPPROACHTOTALENTDEVELOPMENTI. TWOCRITICALGOALS

NewJerseysstrategictalentdevelopmentstrategyisfocusedontwofoundationalgoals.

1. BuildinganInnovative,SkilledWorkforcetoPowerEconomicGrowthInnovation hasdrivenNew Jerseys growth andprosperity formany years. Maintaining thatcompetitiveedgeinthe21stCenturyrequiresaknowledgebasedeconomy,supportedbyahighlyskilledworkforce and a stateofthe art talentdevelopment strategy to guide its training andeducationsystem.Formore than 200 years, New Jerseys skilled workforce has helped its employers converttechnological breakthroughs intoworldclass industries such as life sciences, health care andmedicaldevices,communications,advancedmanufacturingandfinancialservices.Thestatetodayranks among Top 10 states forworkforce education, patents, investment in research anddevelopment,andemploymentofscientistsandengineers.Past performance, however, is no guarantee of future economic success. As the economycontinuestogrow,NewJerseymustkeeppacewithglobaltrendsthatareboostingdemandforworkerswithpostsecondarydegreesandothercredentialsvaluedbyemployers.Fastchangingtechnology and rising international competition are challenges to educators, employers,governmentandcommunitygroupsalike;togetherallstakeholdersmustfindwaystomeettheessentialskillsneedsofemployersANDensurethatmembersoftheworkforcearenotleftbehind.BusinessesinNewJerseyandaroundthecountryhaveidentifiedagrowinggapbetweentheskillstheyrequireonthejobandtheskillscurrentlyavailablefromtheirtraditionalpoolsoftalent.TheNational Governors Association found a serious mismatch in the state between future jobrequirementsandthelevelofcredentialsandknowledgeheldbytheworkforce.Fortypercentoftodaysworkersoverage25haveanAssociatesdegreeorhigher.Within15years,55%ofalljobsinNewJerseyareexpectedtorequireapostsecondarydegree.Agreaterpercentagewillrequire


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apostsecondary, industryvaluedcredential.Employers innearlyall industriesreportdifficultyfinding qualified workers for currently open positions. A New Jersey Business & IndustryAssociation surveyofmanufacturers found that:more than70% reporteddifficulty fillingkeypositionswithworkerswhohadthenecessaryskills;74%saidthoseskillsgapsmadeitdifficulttomaintainproduction levelsconsistentwithcustomerdemand;and51%reportedthemismatchledtoslowerdeliveryoftheirproducttomarket.Clearly,theabilitytorecruittalentwithparticularareasofexpertiseisbecomingacriticalfactorfor businesses when deciding where to invest future resources. A welldefined TalentDevelopmentStrategyisthereforeessentialtosustainingNewJerseystraditionaladvantagesinattractingandretainingcompetitive,highwageemployment.RecentpassageofthenewfederalWorkforce InnovationandOpportunity (WIOA) isan important catalyst for change that couldencourageawiderangeofstakeholderstocollaborateontheimportanteffortofbuildingaskilledworkforcetodriveoureconomy.

2. BuildingEconomicOpportunityforallNewJerseyResidentsIn a rapidly changing, global economy, everyNew Jersey residentwillneed todevelop skills,abilities and connections inorder toobtain a job and tohave a successful career.Given theincreasingskillneedsofemployersinallindustries,NewJerseyresidentsmusthavebasicskills,employabilityskillsandbasiccomputerabilities.Whileahighschooldiplomaiscriticalforlabormarketsuccess,apostsecondaryindustryvaluedcredentialordegreeisnecessaryforthevastmajorityof jobs thatpaya familysupportingwage. Inaneverchanging labormarket,allNewJerseyanswillneed tobeable toplanandmanage theircareers.Theywillneed tobeable toupgradetheirskillsthroughouttheircareer,andtofollowcareerpathwaystonewopportunities.Efforts tobuildnew careerpathways,and tohelp individualsobtainbasic skillsand industryvaluedpostsecondary credentials anddegrees, are critical to the economic futureofoutofschoolyouth,peoplewithdisabilities,thosewith low literacyskills, individualsreceivingpublicassistanceandothersocialservices,homelessindividuals,veteransanddislocatedworkers.Theseefforts must also ensure that women have equitable access to education and trainingopportunities, so that they may pursue careers in any and all occupations, including nontraditionalones.Awelldefined TalentDevelopment Strategy is therefore essential to sustainingNew Jerseyseffortstohelpallresidentsgetonapathtoajobandacareer.RecentpassageofthenewfederalWorkforce InnovationandOpportunity (WIOA) isan important catalyst for change that couldencourage a wide range of stakeholders to collaborate on the important effort of buildingeconomicopportunitiesformoreindividuals.


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II. NEWJERSEYSTALENTDEVELOPMENTSTRATEGYTheMissionIntheend,themostimportantwaytostrengthenNewJerseysworkforceistobuildHighQualityPartnershipswithawiderangeofemployers,statedepartments,localgovernments,educationalinstitutions and communitybased organizations that play critical roles in the labormarket.Employers, libraries,communitygroups,countycolleges,vocational/technical institutions,K12education systems, training providers, industry associations, organized labor, fouryearuniversities and other important players statewide all have an enormous stake in creating asuccessful education and training system that responds to the rapidly changingneedsof thestateskeyindustries.Thetimeforactionhascome.

TheMissionofNewJerseysTalentDevelopmentStrategy:NewJerseywillincreasethenumberofresidentswithanindustryvaluedcredentialordegree

throughhighqualitypartnershipsandintegratedinvestments. WorkforceProgramsCanMakeCriticalInvestmentsinTalentDevelopmentNew Jerseyworkforce development system, spanningmore than 35 different programs, is acritical foundation foranexpanded talentdevelopment system.Theseprogramsare strategicinvestmentsthatcanyieldsignificantreturns.Whentheybecomefocusedonbroadergoalsanda commonmission, they can be a powerful catalyst developing and strengthening lastingpartnershipswith:

employers,groupsofemployersandindustryassociations; organizedlabor; communitycollegesandhighereducation; careerandtechnicaleducationhighschoolsandcomprehensivehighschools; libraries;and communityandfaithbasedorganizations

Workingtogetherwillstrengthenalloftheseimportantorganizationsandinstitutionshelpingthem to increase theircapacity toprovidekeyservices,helping them toconnect to individualemployers,andhelpingthemtoensurethattheirprogramsarealignedwiththeneedsofthelabormarket.Thesepartnershipswillalsohelp these institutionsplayamoreproductiverole in thelabormarket.TheOpportunityofWIOAInthesummerof2014,thefederalWorkforceInnovationandOpportunityAct(WIOA)wassignedintolawsettinganewdirectionforworkforcedevelopmentprogramsacrossthenation.NewJersey launchedanunprecedentedeffort todevelopand implementasharedvision for talentdevelopmentandtopreparefortheimplementationofthisnewlegislation.Thiseffortinvolvedthe launchofaWIOAwebsite,developmentofsixworkgroupsofstakeholdersandstatestaff,


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webinarstosolicitadditionalinputandatwodayPathwaysandPartnershipsconferencewithmorethan300stakeholderparticipants.The resulting New Jerseys Blueprint for Talent Development was adopted by the StateEmploymentandTrainingCommission(SETC)onJune16,2015toguidetheimplementationofWIOAandtoserveasa foundation forthisStatePlan. In the fallof2015,theSETCandLWDworkedcloselywithstakeholders,partnersandSETCCommitteestofurtherrefinethePlanandtodeveloppoliciestofullyimplementWIOAandtofurtherbuildatalentdevelopmentsystem.While thiseffortwas focusedonWIOA, fiveadditionalprogramsare included in thisplan. Inaddition,threeotherprogramsthatarenotpartoftheplanwereincludedinthiseffort.TitleI:Adult,DislocatedWorkerandYouthFormulaProgramsTitleII: AdultEducationandFamilyLiteracyAct(AEFLA)TitleIII: WagnerPeyserActEmploymentServicesProgramTitleIV:TitleIoftheVocationalRehabilitationActProgramsincludedinthePlan:SeniorCommunityServiceEmploymentProgram,JobsforVeteransStateGrant,MigrantandSeasonalFarmworkersProgram,andExOffenderProgramsCriticalpartnerprograms(notintheplan,butconnectedtothiseffort):CarlT.PerkinsCareerandTechnicalEducationAct,UnemploymentInsurance,WorkFirstNewJersey(TANF)EmploymentandTrainingProgram,SNAPEmploymentandTrainingPrograms,NewJerseyWorkforceDevelopmentPartnershipProgram,NewJerseySupplementalWorkforceFundforBasicSkills

KeyStateGovernmentpartnersinthiseffortinclude: StateEmploymentandTrainingCommission DepartmentofLaborandWorkforceDevelopment,

o WorkforceOperationsandBusinessServiceso DivisionofVocationalRehabilitationServiceso WorkforceDevelopmentandEconomicOpportunityo OfficeofResearchandInformation,CenterforOccupationalEmployment

Informationo OfficeofResearchandInformation,WorkforceResearchandAnalytics

DepartmentofEducation DepartmentofHumanServices

o CommissionfortheBlindandVisuallyImpairedo DivisionofFamilyDevelopment

OfficeoftheSecretaryofHigherEducation


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(3) PerformanceGoals.UsingthetableprovidedinAppendix1,includetheState'sexpectedlevelsofperformance relating to theperformanceaccountabilitymeasuresbasedonprimaryindicators of performance described in section 116(b)(2)(A) of WIOA. (This StrategicPlanningelementonlyappliestocoreprograms.)

ThePerformanceGoalsforCoreProgramstablecanbefoundinAppendix1tothisplan.(4)Assessment.Describe how the Statewill assess the overall effectiveness of theworkforce

developmentsystemintheStateinrelationtothestrategicvisionandgoalsstatedaboveinsections(b)(1),(2),and(3)andhowitwillusetheresultsofthisassessmentandotherfeedbacktomakecontinuousorqualityimprovements.

Inordertoassessthequality,effectiveness,andimprovementofprograms,NewJerseywillutilizetheperformancemeasurementsystemoutlinedinsection116oftheWorkforceInnovationandOpportunityActaswellasadditionalmetricsthathavebeenadoptedbytheSETCforfederalandstateworkforceprograms. TheStatewillwork toalignperformancemetrics forallworkforceprogramswiththosebeingadoptedhereforthespecifictitles;forexample,theStatewillexploreapplying thesemetrics to theWorkFirstNJ and SNAP E&Tprograms.Additionalperformancemetricsinclude:AdditionalPerformanceMeasuresforWIOATitleI,WIOATitleIIandWorkFirstNewJersey

1. Numberofprogramparticipantsservedbytheprogram2. Numberofprogramparticipantsexitedfromtheprogram3. Percentageofprogramparticipantsservedwithbarrierstoemploymentasfollows:

a. Disabilityb. Exoffenderc. Nohighschooldiplomad. Previouslyorcurrentlyinfostercaree. Homelessf. LimitedEnglishProficiencyorLowLevelLiteracyg. LongTerm Unemployed (continuously unemployed for at least 12 consecutive

months)h. PublicAssistancecustomer

4. Percentage of program participants responding to surveywho are satisfiedwith theirtraining/counselingafterexitingfromtheprogram

AdditionalPerformanceMeasuresforWIOATitleIONLYxxiv

5. WorkforceDevelopmentBoard(WDB)Certification6. NumberofHighQualityPartnerships7. RegionalCoordination

ThreeworkforceplanningregionsaredesignatedinNewJersey:North,Central,andSouth.TheStatewillevaluate ifeachregionhaseffectivelyadministeredtheiractivitiesunderWIOA.


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The State Employment and TrainingCommission (SETC) (www.njsetc.net) and its committeesutilize performance dashboards to monitor the effectiveness of the New Jersey workforcedevelopment systemandwillutilize this samedashboardmodel togageprogress toward thestrategicvisionandgoalsthathavebeenlaidoutinNewJerseysBlueprintforTalentDevelopment.In addition to the performance accountability measures required for core programs, thesedashboardsincludesupplementaldatatomeasurenotjustoutcomes,butprogressindicatorsandnonrequiredoutcomemeasures.TheSETCsPerformanceCommitteeadvisestheSETConperformancestandardsfortheworkforcesystem.LocalWDBsarerequiredtohaveaOneStopCommitteetomonitorperformanceoftheworkforcesystem in the localareaandachievementofnegotiatedperformancegoals. In theperformance review process, the SETC and local WDBs will use dashboards to monitorperformanceandmakestrategicmidcoursecorrectionsforthesystem.(c)StateStrategyTheUnifiedorCombinedStatePlanmust include theState'sstrategies toachieve itsstrategicvisionandgoals.Thesestrategiesmusttake intoaccounttheStateseconomic,workforce,andworkforce development, education and training activities and analysis provided in Section (a)above. Include discussion of specific strategies to address the needs of populations providedSection(a).(1)Describe the strategies the Statewill implement, including industry or sector partnerships

relatedtoindemandindustrysectorsandoccupationandcareerpathways,asrequiredbyWIOAsection101(d)(3)(B), (D).Careerpathways isdefinedatWIOAsection3(7).IndemandindustrysectororoccupationisdefinedatWIOAsection3(23).

(2)DescribethestrategiestheStatewillusetoalignthecoreprograms,anyCombinedStatePlanpartnerprogramsincludedinthisPlan,requiredandoptionalonestoppartnerprograms,andanyotherresourcesavailabletotheStatetoachievefullyintegratedcustomerservicesconsistentwiththestrategicvisionandgoalsdescribedabove.AlsodescribestrategiestostrengthenworkforcedevelopmentactivitiesinregardtoweaknessesidentifiedinsectionII(a)(2)..

FIVEKEYSTRATEGICTH

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