Tag Archives: workforce

InCity Letters, InCity Voices, Uncategorized

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL WORKFORCE TRAINING INITIATIVES

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PATRICK ADMINISTRATION CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL WORKFORCE TRAINING INITIATIVES AND ANNOUNCES LATEST ROUND OF GRANT FUNDING FOR MASSACHUSETTS COMPANIES

$3.7 million in matching grants complement private sector workforce training initiatives to benefit over 3,273 employees at 39 Massachusetts companies

CHARLTON – Continuing with the Patrick Administration’s strategic investments in workforce training initiatives, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Joanne F. Goldstein today announced $3.7 million in Workforce Training Fund General Program Grants during a visit to INCOM, a Charlton-based manufacturer and previous grant recipient. In total, today’s announced grants will provide for the training of 3,273 current and newly hired employees at 39 companies across the Commonwealth. The grants, which are for up to two years, serve as a resource for businesses to increase the skill set of their incumbent employees and provide valuable training to the workers. As a result of these awarded grants, participating companies expect to create 242 new jobs by the end of 2015.

“We continue to promote the Workforce Training Fund because it is an effective model that encourages the business community to train and retrain employees, helping Massachusetts companies stay competitive in today’s global and innovative economy,” said Secretary Goldstein. “Over the last several years, we have seen many companies succeed thanks to these training grants and we look forward to more companies growing and excelling as a result of these grants and training initiatives.”

Today’s announcement supports companies located in 32 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Of the 39 awarded grants, one is a technical assistance grants, a type of planning grant awarded to organizations preparing to implement workforce training grants and initiatives. Additionally, 3 grants were awarded to consortium projects involving multiple employers with common training needs.

This latest round of Workforce Training Fund grants build on the record investments in workforce training and education made by the Patrick Administration in recent years. Since 2007, the Administration has awarded $74.6 million through the Workforce Training Fund in General Program Training Grants to 999 projects involving more than 1,052 businesses. As a result of this funding, 94,836 workers have been or will be trained across a broad range of industries. Today’s announced funding is the latest round of Workforce Training Fund Program grants that will further support initiatives to enhance skills for employees in sectors including: Manufacturing; Finance and Insurance; Information; Accommodation and Food Services; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Retail Trade; Wholesale Trade; Transportation and Warehousing; Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation; and other services.

“We encourage businesses, regardless of size, to contact us to learn more about the Workforce Training Fund and how this resource can help them address their business needs,” said Nancy Snyder, President and CEO of EOLWD’s Commonwealth Corporation. “We are also interested in helping small businesses access the fund through consortiums that can be organized by third party workforce and training organizations.”

“If we are going to manufacture domestically, and compete globally, we need to have the best trained, most productive workforce in the world,” said Michael Detarando, INCOM President & CEO. “The Workforce Training Fund is an invaluable resource in the process toward achieving that goal and keeping manufacturing jobs here in Massachusetts.”

“The manufacturing sector is an important component of the Southern Central Massachusetts economy,” said Senator Richard T. Moore, Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus. “Workforce development is critical to sustaining this industry, and keeping businesses in Massachusetts, especially as current employees age and jobs open up. Future candidates must be trained to fulfill those positions, and these grants will go a long way to fulfill that need.”

The following is a complete list of the awarded Workforce Training Fund General Program Grant Recipients announced today (listed by city/town), totaling $3,772,716:

 

City Company Name Amount Awarded Projected Number of Employees to be Trained New Jobs Expected to be Created
Agawam BELT TECHNOLOGIES INC. $75,897 31 3
AVON CONTROLLER SERVICE & SALES CO INC. $54,000 28 3
Ayer L-3 COMMUNICATIONS ESSCO INC. $107,300 110 6
BILLERICA CABOT CORPORATION $223,600 150 20
BOSTON HAMPTON INN AND SUITES CROSSTOWN $49,760 50 2
BOSTON HOLLISTER ASSOCIATES, INC. $221,168 298 30
BOSTON SPALDING TOUGIAS ARCHITECTS joinsCHOO & COMPANY, INC. of Quincy for a consortium grant. $14,400 7 1
BROCKTON GTR MANUFACTURING CORPORATION $100,800 65 5
CHARLEMONT ZOAR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE RESORT, INC. $25,692 40 0
CHELSEA KETTLE CUISINE LLC $249,675 226 37
CHICOPEE DUVAL PRECISION GRINDING, INC. $54,600 28 2
East Bridgewater MUELLER CORPORATION $54,135 71 1
East Longmeadow MAYBURY MATERIAL HANDLING $165,457 68 3
FRAMINGHAM IDENTITY FORCE $43,700 5 5
HAVERHILL NEW ENGLAND DIE CUTTING / AMERICAN EMI SOLUTIONS $39,808 36 4
HOLLISTON IWAKI AMERICA WALCHEM $60,480 38 3
HUDSON HYPERTRONICS CORPORATION $199,222 120 15
LAWRENCE MULTIGRAINS, INC. $197,800 111 3
Malden MASSACHUSETTS AFL-CIO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, INC. 

(TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT)

 $21,840 N/A N/A
MANSFIELD SMITH & NEPHEW, INC. ASDD $88,000 63 10
MARLBOROUGH MARLBOROUGH SAVINGS BANK $76,275 54 3
METHUEN 3M TOUCH SYSTEMS INC $72,984 90 4
NEEDHAM CVS/CAREMARK $102,142 120 0
NORTH ADAMS CRANE STATIONERY JOINS CRANE TECHNICAL MATERIALS, INC. OF DALTON FOR A CONSORTIUM GRANT. $250,000 401 11
NORTH ADAMS EXCELSIOR INTEGRATED $80,250 46 6
NORWELL G-FORCE SHIPPING $54,736 42 6
PALMER DETECTOR TECHNOLOGY, INCORPORATED $112,800 60 3
PALMER SANDERSON MACLEOD INC. $131,085 93 10
PEABODY ANALOGIC CORPORATION $134,030 147 4
PEABODY INNOVENT TECHNOLOGIES $91,000 39 8
PITTSFIELD BLUE Q CORPORATION $57,200 29 0
QUINCY QUINCY CREDIT UNION $56,552 45 1
SWANSEA BAYCOAST BANK JOINS PARTNERS INSURANCE GROUP AND PLIMOUTH INVESTMENT ADVISORS, BOTH OF SWANSEA, FOR A CONSORTIUM GRANT. $193,978 325 20
WALTHAM PLATING FOR ELECTRONICS, INC $38,200 38 2
WEST BRIDGEWATER KOSO AMERICA, INC. $61,500 68 3
WEST BRIDGEWATER STD PRECISION GEAR & INSTRUMENT, INC. $36,400 26 1
WEST WAREHAM CALORIQUE LLC $30,360 14 2
WEST WAREHAM MEDER ELECTRONICS INC $58,810 25 2
WILMINGTON S.G. TORRICE CO., INC $87,080 66 3

To learn more about the Workforce Training Fund Program, visit www.mass.gov/wtfp.

InCity Letters, InCity Voices, Uncategorized

MASS SECRETARY OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO LEAD NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

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MASSACHUSETTS SECRETARY OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO LEAD THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT LABOR OFFICIALS

BOSTON –  Massachusetts Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development Joanne F. Goldstein was elected to serve as president of the National Association of Government Labor Officials (NAGLO) last week at the association’s annual conference held in Boston.

NAGLO is a bi-partisan professional association representing Secretaries, Commissioners, and Directors of Labor for each state and territory of the United States. As president, Secretary Goldstein will lead NAGLO’s effort to promote shared ideas and best practices in protecting the nation’s workforce.

“NAGLO sets the stage to exchange new and diverse ideas from across the country’s top labor officials,” said Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) Secretary Goldstein. “It’s an honor to be elected by my peers, and I am eager to collaborate with members to tackle the unique workforce challenges and opportunities we face in our home states as well as throughout the country.”

“Secretary Goldstein continues to be a tremendous advocate for job seekers and employers as we move our Commonwealth forward,” said Governor Deval L. Patrick. “I congratulate Joanne on this new leadership role with NAGLO, and I know she will do right by Massachusetts and the country.”

Secretary Goldstein succeeds Virginia’s Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry, Courtney Malveaux. “I am pleased that Secretary Goldstein has stepped in to lead NAGLO as it celebrates its 100th anniversary,” said outgoing NAGLO President Malveaux. “Secretary Goldstein is truly a public servant, a valued partner and a good friend.  I am confident she will lead the group well.”

Last week, Secretary Goldstein hosted the 2013 NAGLO Annual Conference in Boston from July 29 through July 31. The conference featured keynote speakers from the U.S. Department of Labor and many states as well as a series of presentations discussing worker misclassification, wage collection, apprenticeship and training, unemployment, prevailing wage, new technology and best practices among other topics. During the conference, Secretary Goldstein moderated a panel discussion titled “Addressing Worker Misclassification: A Win-Win for Business, Labor, and the Public.

EOLWD works on behalf of job seekers, apprentices, union members, claimants, employers, and researchers. Secretary Goldstein oversees a wide variety of programs and services to serve constituents across the Commonwealth, including the recent deployment of over $10 million in grants announced this summer to support workforce training for local employers and job seekers. Looking ahead, EOLWD anticipates further grant awards through the Workforce Training Fund, Health Care Workforce Transformation Fund, and other sources and releasing the annual report on the underground economy and employee misclassification by the fall 2013.

For more information about EOLWD, visit www.mass.gov/lwd. To learn more about NAGLO, visit www.naglo.org.

InCity Letters, Uncategorized

Latest Mass job stats

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Boston –The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported today that preliminary November estimates show an increase of 5,000 jobs in Massachusetts, for a total of 3,245,400 jobs. The total unemployment rate was 7.0 percent, down 0.3 of a percentage point from the October rate of 7.3 percent, and well below the national rate of 8.6 percent. It is the lowest monthly rate since December of 2008.

Six of the ten private sectors added jobs in November with gains in Leisure and Hospitality; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; Education and Health Services; Financial Activities; Professional, Scientific and Business Services; and Other Services. The November job gain follows a revised 11,900 job gain in October originally reported as 10,800.

Year-to-date (December 2010 to November 2011), 51,600 jobs have been added in the Bay State with 56,400 private sector jobs added. Over-the-year (November 2010 to November 2011), jobs are up 55,600, a growth rate of 1.7 percent, with private sector jobs up 59,900, for a growth rate of 2.2 percent. Over-the-year, the national rate of job growth is 1.2 percent with private sector job growth up 1.7 percent.

Employment Overview

Leisure and Hospitality added 4,300 (+1.4%) jobs over-the-month with gains in Accommodation and Food Services and Arts, Entertainment and Recreation. Over-the-year, the sector has added 6,400 (+2.1%) jobs as the Accommodation and Food Services component added 8,300 (+3.2%) jobs.

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 3,000 (+0.5%) jobs over-the-month with gains in Retail Trade and Wholesale Trade. Over-the-year, jobs in Trade, Transportation and Utilities are up 9,500 (+1.7%) with Retail Trade adding 6,100 (+1.8%) jobs, Wholesale Trade gaining 2,600 (+2.1%) jobs and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities adding 800 jobs (+1.0%).

Education and Health Services added 900 (+0.1%) jobs over-the-month as both components recorded gains. Educational Services added 600 (+0.4%) jobs and Health Care and Social Assistance gained 300 (+0.1%) jobs. Over-the-year this sector has added 6,500 (+1.0%) jobs.

Financial Activities jobs were up 700 (+0.3%) over-the-month with a gain in Real Estate, Rental and Leasing. Over-the-year, jobs are up 3,500 (+1.7%) with a 1,200 (+0.7%) job gain in Finance and Insurance and a 2,300 (+5.8%) job gain in Real Estate, Rental and Leasing.

Professional, Scientific and Business Services gained 500 (+0.1%) jobs over-the-month, the sector’s twelfth consecutive monthly gain. Within the sector, both Administrative Services and Waste Services and Management of Companies and Enterprises added jobs. Over-the-year, the sector has added 22,900 (+5.0%) jobs.

Other Services added 400 (+0.3%) jobs over-the month. Over-the-year, jobs are up 4,400 (+3.8%).

Over-the-month, Mining and Logging employment remained unchanged while losing 100 (-8.3%) jobs over-the-year.

Over-the-month, Construction lost 1,400 (-1.3%) jobs. Over-the-year, this sector has added 1,900 (+1.8%) jobs with gains in Specialty Trade Contractors, Construction of Buildings, and Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction.

Manufacturing lost 1,400 (-0.5%) jobs over-the-month with losses in both Durable Goods and Non-Durable Goods. From November 2010 to November 2011, Manufacturing jobs are up 2,800 (+1.1%) with most of the gain in Non-Durable Goods.

Over-the-month, Information jobs were down 200 (-0.2%), but over-the-year, the sector has added 2,100 (+2.5%) jobs.

Over-the-month, Government lost 1,800 (-0.4%) jobs. Local Government lost 1,300 (-0.5%) jobs. Federal Government was down 300 (-0.6%) jobs while State Government lost 200 jobs (-0.2%). Over-the-year, Government jobs were down 4,300 (-1.0%).

Labor Force Overview

The November estimates show 3,251,500 Massachusetts residents were employed and 244,200 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,495,700. The labor force increased by 4,700 from 3,491,000 in October, as 13,900 more residents were employed and 9,200 fewer residents were unemployed over-the-month. Since October 2009, there are 83,100 more residents employed and 60,200 fewer residents unemployed as the labor force increased by 22,900. Totals for November may not add exactly due to rounding.

The unemployment rate is based on a monthly sample of households, while the job estimates are derived from a monthly sample survey of employers. As a result, the two statistics for November exhibit different trends.

InCity Letters

MA unemployment/job stats

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Jobs Decrease by 4,000 in May

Boston – The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported today that the total unemployment rate in May was 7.6 percent, down from 7.8 percent in April. The preliminary May job estimates show 3,224,800 jobs in Massachusetts, a decrease of 4,000 jobs. Government lost 2,600 jobs and the private sector lost 1,400.

Job gains occurred in Professional, Scientific, and Business Services; Construction; Manufacturing; Education and Health Services; Other Services; and Information. Leisure and Hospitality; Government; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; Financial Activities; and Mining and Logging lost jobs. The May job loss follows a revised 20,300 jobs gain in April, previously reported as a 19,500 job gain.

Over-the-year, jobs are up 27,500 (+0.9 percent) with private sector jobs up 44,800 (+1.6 percent). Year-to-date 31,000 jobs have been added in the Commonwealth with 39,200 in private sector jobs. Continue reading MA unemployment/job stats →