Strategic Business Plan 2017 - 2020 Strategic Business Plan 2017 - 2020 | Page 29

part of the outreach efforts is gathering information from employers regarding their needs. Besides collecting
basic information for job orders, the outreach team shares relevant employer information which helps team
members meet employers' expanding needs. This information shared with employers includes labor market
and tax credit information, information about skills development, and on-the-job and customized training
programs. The outreach team also gathers information from employers and reports to WFSCB so it may be
a special advocate for employer needs in various forums.
The BSU team outreaches employers to offer workforce services and to increase the Board's market share
of workforce activity. Businesses in demand industries are targeted for contact. Contacts are made to
develop job opportunities for occupations reflecting the skills of large blocks of job seekers. The outreach
staffs solicit job openings for all job seekers in the workforce area, but the focus on the job listings is the
needs of the employers.
Employer needs and satisfaction surveys are used by the BSU team to ensure continued excellence in
service. Survey development has been a cooperative effort by the BSU team, contractor management staff,
and WFSCB professionals. Monthly survey reports are reviewed by the WFSCB professionals and the BSU
team and shared with the Workforce Services Committee.
Complementing the efforts of the BSU team, SERCO provides sufficient staff to effectively handle the volume
of job openings listed by employers through a centralized job order unit. The job order unit is an integral part
of the business services team. The entire team responds quickly and appropriately to the needs of employers,
ensuring employers are treated as valued customers. Not only are employers needs addressed and met but
the results help WFSCB meet or exceed the Employer Measures established by the State.
An Employer Driven System - The U.S. Department of Labor and the Texas Workforce Commission have
charged the Texas Workforce Boards to become more responsive to the needs of employers, to become an
“employer-driven” workforce development syste m. A supply-driven system focuses on providing job seekers
and employed workers with employment skills. An employer-driven system focuses on meeting employers’
needs for specific types of skilled workers. In an employer-driven system, the needs of the job seekers and
workers are addressed in the context of employer needs (i.e., by ensuring that job seekers are prepared for
and connected to available employment opportunities)
Economic Development
An explanation of how the Board will coordinate local workforce investment activities with regional economic development
activities that are carried out in the local area and how the Board will promote entrepreneurial-skills training and
microenterprise services.
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