BRIEFING PAPER:WORKFORCE INNOVATION
OVERVIEW
Promoting the prospect of economic recovery creates theopportunity to address some longer term challenges facing the U.S.economy.
To build the next generation of prosperity, we needworkforce innovation: the integration of education, workforcedevelopment and economic development.
KEY POINT #1:
With investments over a period of 4 years, the U.S. Department ofLabor created a network of 39 innovating regions across thecountry. These regions provide a valuable laboratory -- a network of“hot spots” of workforce innovation -- to teach leaders throughoutin the U.S. “what works”.As leaders of WIRED regions across the country, we come fromvaried backgrounds: urban and rural, Republican and Democrat,from K-12 systems to research universities. Our message is a simpleone: Move ahead with regional approaches to our new challenges.
These regions have learned how to connect
Building regional strategies takes new approaches to leadership:Command and control approaches do not work in today’s world.We need regional leaders who can cross organizational andpolitical boundaries, leaders who know how to inspire trust and getcomplex projects underway. The WIRED regions understand thesedynamics and can teach them to others.
These regions have learned how to leverage
The federal government, standing alone, will never transform our workforce. Our economy is simply too big and complex. The federalgovernment works best as a partner to support workforceinnovation.Workforce innovation requires aligning different parties to commongoals. When alignment takes place, partners co-invest. Federaldollars leverage other investment. This task is not easy, but when itcomes to workforce innovation, the WIRED regions represent theleading edge of new practices.
KEY POINT #1
: With investmentsover a period of 4 years, theU.S. Department of Labor created a network of 39innovating regions across thecountry. These regions providea valuable laboratory toteach other regions in the U.S.“what works”.
KEY POINT #2:
We can “link and leverage” many of theproven strategies and spreadthem across the country. Thenew approaches to workforceinnovation are emerging inthese regional “hot spots”.
KEY POINT #3
: Creatinginnovative, flexible educationand training options requirescollaboration across manyorganizations within regions.We have learned how federalpolicies can support workforceinnovation to strengthen our national competitiveness.
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