Looking deeper at unemployment
With all the buzz about drops in the local unemployment rates, it’s helpful to look deeper at those working temp jobs, part-time jobs, or are under-employed. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics releases monthly figures on unemployment for the nation, states, MSAs and counties. What people may not know is that in addition to the officiallyRead More
Joplin eats away at unemployment rate
Joplin’s growth in restaurant establishments is one of several drivers of lower unemployment in the metro area. KOAM-TV interviewed Jasen Jones of the Workforce Investment Board for insights into the hospitality sector and what career opportunities might be available. The Joplin Metro (Jasper and Newton Counties combined) experienced a drop in unemployment from 6.0% inRead More
Youth earn while they learn with Scholars@Work
A new pilot program through VOICES helps youth earn a paycheck while pursuing their High School Equivalency (HSE, formally known as GED). Scholars at Work overcomes one of the greatest challenges youth face in meeting a career goal – how to pay the bills while taking time off for school. Through stipends to take careRead More
PBS NewsHour examines NCRC
Wednesday’s PBS NewHour aired an extended featured on the National Career Readiness and the NCRC’s role in preparing students for the workforce. For American industry, finding employees who have all the requisite skills is a big challenge, and hiring people who don’t stack up can cost businesses a great deal of money. Special correspondent John TulenkoRead More
Minimum wage rises in Missouri
The New Year rings in a small increase in Missouri’s minimum wage. Effective January 1st, $7.50/hour is Missouri’s official minimum. KOAM-TV’s Liz Holliday probed the potential impact to local workers and the Show-Me State’s economy in a feature that aired Wednesday night on channels 7 and 14.
KOAM on extended unemployment benefits cut
KOAM-TV’s Rudy Harper profiled the local impact of the fed’s expiration of extended unemployment benefits. As the lead story on KOAM’s 10:00 news, Harper interviewed Jasen Jones of the Workforce Investment Board on impact and advice for job seekers. Harper also interviewed a recipient of the benefits. Specialists at the American Job Center in JoplinRead More
WIBs & lenders together creating jobs
Workforce professionals and lenders can improve their capacity to develop a trained workforce by working together more effectively. That’s the finding from a recent survey of Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and from lender roundtables conducted by the Kansas City Fed. Mirroring this promising practice on a local level, the Southwest Missouri WIB enjoys strong partnershipsRead More
Raising the bar together
The Joplin Region and the Southwest WIB region enjoyed major gains the past few years in the collaboration of education, business, and economic/workforce development. Great examples include Certified Work Ready Communities, Manufacturing Day, and the Public Safety Academy. The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) recently released a report that catalogs similar concepts around the nationRead More
Competitive Workforce
The WIB is committed to filling skill gaps and creating opportunities for Southwest Missouri’s workforce to score and enter vibrant, family-supporting careers. More >
Growing Businesses
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Regional Prosperity
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