State seeks to better match employers, jobseekers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/27/jobprogram.html?sid=101

Thursday, March 27, 2008 7:44 PM
By Mark Niquette
The Columbus Dispatch

Gov. Ted Strickland signed an executive order today with the goal of better organizing state efforts to educate and train workers for jobs in Ohio.

Strickland is shifting $34 million in existing funding and 33 state workers involved in workforce development, primarily from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, to the state Department of Development and Board of Regents.

The idea is to align workforce development efforts at the three agencies to help ensure that workers are being prepared for available jobs and to help keep and attract businesses.

“I am determined to make sure that Ohio’s workforce development programs are more effective and responsive to the needs of workers and businesses in Ohio,” Strickland said in a release.

Under the order, the Development Department will assume responsibility for all services related to employers, including the “one-stop” business support programs now handled by Job and Family Services.

The Board of Regents will transfer certain training grants to the Department of Development and will take over the Ohio Skills Bank, which seeks to determine what skills Ohio companies need in employees and whether state schools are training graduates with those qualifications.

FULL story at link.