The state Senate recently passed legislation that would aid workforce development boards.
Senate Bill 101 would amend the Workforce Development Act to allow for greater analysis of workforce development programs and policies. It would require the Department of Labor and Industry and the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis to share data on wages, new hires and unemployment claimants with the state’s 22 local workforce development boards in a timely fashion.
Currently, it can take up to two years for the boards to receive data. By receiving data more quickly, boards can identify potential customers and measure the success and shortcomings of specific programs and customers.
The bill also would require the technical assistance and support necessary to ensure the data is useful for local workforce development boards.
“Leveraging the data we already collect just makes sense — it gives us a clearer picture of what’s working and what isn’t for Pennsylvanians striving for financial independence,” state Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington County), who introduced the bill, said. “By identifying both the strengths and shortcomings of these programs, we can make smarter improvements that reach more people and ensure tax dollars are spent responsibly.”
The bill now moves to the state House of Representatives for consideration.