Narragansett, SK Legislators Help Establish Statewide Jobs Match Program

The Fiscal Year 2014 state budget approved this week by the General Assembly calls for the establishment of an enhanced Jobs Match Program within the Department of Labor and Training.

The program, which is to be operational by July 2, 2014, requires DLT to enhance its web-based systems, match potential employees with jobs, identify skills gaps and suggest remedies.

The language included in the new budget (2013-H 5127Aaa, Article 15) derives from legislation introduced earlier this session in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate bill, 2013-S 0403, was sponsored by Sen. James C. Sheehan (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown) and was part of the Senate’s “Moving the Needle” package of economic development bills. The House bill, 2013-H 5939, was introduced by Rep. Donna M. Walsh (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly).

“The Jobs Match Program is intended to ensure that the labor force is equipped with the skills employers need, that workforce development is a focus at all levels of government and education, and that the state continues to build partnerships to achieve greater success in addressing skills gaps,” said Senator Sheehan.

“Rhode Island needs to build upon the efforts of the Department of Labor and Training to facilitate employers’ access to high quality, skilled job seekers and to reduce the number of unemployed individuals in Rhode Island,” said Representative Walsh. “Workforce development programs such as this need to be a focus at all levels of government and education.”     

The program to be implemented by the DLT seeks to strengthen statewide interagency collaborations, enhance the current state workforce development and job match system and address skill gaps in a manner that aligns with business and industry needs. It acknowledges that the state’s career pathways system must be driven by local business and industry needs and that the state needs to make a focused effort to provide easy access for businesses to find competent employees and for job seekers to obtain necessary resources, training and skills development.

The Department of Labor and Training will implement the program using the department’s existing web-based workforce and job system as a basis. The first requirement of the web-based system is that it be easy for employers to participate in, update and receive responses from job seekers. Skill gaps would be identified quickly, and steps will be taken through training or education to address identified skill gaps. The system would be advertised and promoted to maximize business and employment use.