A local workforce development system encompasses the organizations and activities that prepare people for employment, help workers advance in their careers, and ensure a skilled workforce.
These systems are complex, with multiple funding sources, programs, organizational missions, target populations, and labor market demands. Stakeholders include employers, public workforce agencies, community colleges, community-based organizations, state and local governments, unions and trade associations, and philanthropic organizations. Local systems are also influenced by the state and federal context.
The Urban Institute is working to better understand local and regional workforce systems and federal, state, and local roles. We study the engagement of different stakeholders, how to improve system collaboration and efficiency, and how to measure whether investments are achieving system goals.
Publications
Improving Economic Opportunity through Health Care Training
January 2019 Pamela J. Loprest
Strategies to Meet the Needs of Young Parent Families
September 2018 Alan D. Dodkowitz, Yuju Park, Shayne Spaulding
Public Funding for Job Training at the State and Local Level
June 2018 Kelly S. Mikelson and Ian Hecker
Workforce Development and Low-Income Adults and Youth
September 2017 Lauren Eyster, Demetra Smith Nightingale
State Workforce and Economic Development Collaboration
May 2017 Lauren Eyster, Amanda Briggs
TAACCCT Approaches, Targeted Industries, and Partnerships
March 2017 Lauren Eyster, Elissa Cohen, Kelly S. Mikelson, Christin Durham
Changing Workforce Systems
February 2017 Hamutal Bernstein, Ananda Martin-Caughey
Federal Investments in Job Training at Community Colleges
December 2016 Lauren Eyster, Christin Durham, Theresa Anderson
Systems Change under the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) Program
June 2016 research report by Hamutal Bernstein, Lauren Eyster, Jennifer Yahner, Stephanie Own, and Pamela Loprest
Understanding Local Workforce Systems
March 2016 Lauren Eyster, Christin Durham, Michelle Van Noy, and Neil Damron
Coordinating Workforce and Economic Development under WIOA
October 2015 Lauren Eyster
Urban Wire posts
How jobseekers can benefit from employment data
March 2017 Demetra Smith Nightingale, Burt S. Barnow
How 2017's leaders should think about jobs
June 2016 Shayne Spaulding and Lauren Eyster
Using local workforce systems to support career pathways
May 2016 Christin Durham
Better supporting state economic development
October 2015 Norton Francis and Lauren Eyster
What you need to know about the new workforce development bill
July 2015 Lauren Eyster
Projects
Bridging the Gap
Accelerating Opportunity
Local Workforce System Infographic
New Skills at Work Assessment
Health Profession Opportunity Grants
Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training Program
Local Workforce System Guide
How Career Pathways Can Support Career Advancement