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MONTANA STATE EMPLOYERS’ COUNCIL STATEWIDE POSITION STATEMENTS

Developed October 2001

Revised 5/22/02 & 11/03/03

VISION

The vision of the Montana State Employers’ Council (MSEC) is to support active involvement in statewide initiatives that affect the Workforce Services Division and its local Job Service Workforce Centers.

BACKGROUND: 
At the Annual Meeting of the MSEC in Anaconda, Montana on June 7th, 2001, a motion was passed to have the State Council develop a proposal to “establish statewide goals to set direction to support the evolution of workforce development, WIA, school-to-work and economic development and provide guidance to local JSECs in developing objectives each year for their projects.”  The Position Statements document was reviewed and revised at the Annual Meeting of the MSEC in Lewistown, Montana on May 22nd, 2002.  The document was revisited by the MSEC Executive Board at their Strategic Planning Session on November 3, 2003.

In the late 1980’s, local Job Service Employer Committees (JSECs) and the State JSEC were established to work as advisory partners with Montana’s network of local Job Service offices. Local JSECs have always determined their own membership and taken on projects based on the needs of their Job Service and business community.  Examples of typical local JSEC projects include sponsorship of seminars of interest to the business community, and participation in youth activities such as career fairs and Jobs for Montana’s Graduates.

At the state level - the Bylaws of the MSEC outline the Council’s purpose as:

(a)      Promoting increased utilization of Montana Workforce Services Division (WSD).
(b)      Advising WSD of employer needs and concerns.
(c)      Formulating positions on workforce issues.
(d)     Supporting WSD and United States Employment Service to properly fulfill their mandate.
(e)     Serving as a communication and resource linkage to share and disseminate information, directives and ideas between Montana employers, local Job Service Employers Committees (JSEC), WSD and the U.S. Department of Labor.
(f)      Assisting local JSEC committees to achieve their goals and objectives.
(g)      Seeking solutions to employment, training, and related issues in need of statewide or national attention.

PROPOSAL:

In Montana, the local and statewide structure of JSEC is strong.  The strength of JSEC is evidenced by the well-established reporting and communication links between the local and state JSEC organization, Job Service Workforce Centers, state Workforce Services Division, and Department of Labor.  Information flows freely within these organizations and coordinators serve as valuable connectors from one department  to another at every level. Because of this strength, we are in a good position to contribute to the positive evolution of workforce development at both the state and local level.  Toward this end, the Montana State Employers’ Council has developed position statements in order to: 1) promote and support economic and workforce development efforts and, 2) sustain the growth and development of the school-to-work concept.  Local JSECs are encouraged to use these suggested activities as guidelines in developing goals and activities appropriate for their particular communities.  The suggested activities are simply meant to provide guidance as local JSECs take on new projects or move to the next level of involvement in these statewide initiatives. 

POSITION STATEMENT – ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

The Montana State Employers’ Council and local Job Service Employer Committees (JSECs) can help to promote and support economic and workforce development efforts in a variety of ways.  These include but are not limited to the following:

  • Provide a business perspective and feedback to the Workforce Services Division and local Job Service Workforce Centers as they develop enhanced business services through the Business Advocate Program.
  • Participate in local economic development efforts
  • Capitalize on the network of influence and business community connections to help facilitate collaboration on economic development efforts and workforce training initiatives
  • Participate in state level economic development efforts
  • Provide an “employer voice” in local and state efforts
  • Help identify local community needs
  • Serve on the State Workforce Investment Board
  • Serve on the Local Workforce Investment Boards
  • Serve on Youth Councils
  • Participate in Community Management Teams
  • Participate on special committees and/or task forces, particularly as they impact local Job Service Workforce Centers
  • Be a voice for employers to provide input to the Local Workforce Investment Boards
  • Take an active role in communicating with and educating employers and the business community about the workforce system.

POSITION STATEMENT – SCHOOL-TO-WORK

The Montana State Employers’ Council and local Job Service Employer Committees (JSECs) can help to sustain the growth and development of the school-to-work concept in a variety of ways.  These include but are not limited to the following:

  • Offer support to implement sustainability plans developed by local, regional and state level school-to-work partnerships.
  • Sponsor and/or participate in school-to-work activities such as Career Fairs, mock interviews, scholarship programs, Jobs for Montana’s Graduates (JMG), job shadowing, mentoring, field trips, internships and work experience for students.
  • Participate in local school-to-work meetings to provide the school district with a link to the local business community.
  • Participate at the state level on advisory boards and special committees.
  • Foster continued partnerships with business and education
  • Communicate with local schools (superintendent’s and support staff) about business’ desire to participate in the preparation of the future workforce, and seek evidence of the district’s commitment toward sustaining school-to-work.
  • Promote school-to-work for all ages of students.
  • Explore ways to provide resources to local school-to-work projects that address educating students on employer’s expectations for work ethic and positive worker attitudes