Workforce Legislation


OWP's FY09 Workforce Legislative Priorities


  • Restore WIA Funding to FY05 levels - $3.5 billion

  • Since 2005, Oregon's WIA resources are down over 26% from $58m to $46m

  • Fully Fund Green Jobs Act - $125m

  • Restore Summer Youth Employment Funding - $1b for 300,000 youth

  • Restore YouthBuild Funding to FY05 levels - $60 million

  • Reauthorize Workforce Investment Act

  • Maintain Principles of Local Decision-making and Business led Boards

  • Give Local Workforce Boards flexibility to steer workforce investments in an efficient, demand-driven fashion including Green Jobs Act Funding


Oregon has not kept pace with the investments necessary to have an adequate pipeline of ready to work, skilled workers.  And it gets worse!!  This spring Oregon lost nearly $5 million in existing workforce development funding as a result of congressionally passed $250m rescission to WIA as part of FY08 Appropriations.  And Oregon's workforce funding for the current fiscal year that began 7/1/08 was reduced by another 7% ($3.5m less than the previous year).

That's $8.5m less to help Workers, Employers and Youth.  It is time to focus on our state's future, our competitiveness.  We need increased investments in workforce funding NOW!!

Over the next decade Oregon is faced with finding workers for nearly 700,000 jobs (retirements accounting for over half of these openings).  Over 25% of these jobs require post secondary education and skills according to Oregon Employment Dept.  These high wage, high growth jobs are the very backbone of our economy: technicians, nurses, trades people, machinists, designers, fabricators, mechanics, analysts, teachers, correctional officers, audio/visual specialists, etc.

Today's manufacturing, wood products, healthcare and food processing jobs require a pipeline of skilled, motivated workers.  The sustainable energy and "green jobs" of tomorrow will only add to the "talent pipeline" challenges.  If Oregon is to be a national leader in these and other emerging industries, we need increased investments in workforce funding NOW!! 

Since 1999 Oregon Workforce Partnership (OWP) has worked hand in hand with our state's leadership to provide workers and youth with 21st Century skills and keep Oregon's businesses competitive in the global economy with great results.  OWP has hundreds of business, labor, educational, community and association leaders working with local elected officials across the state to respond effectively to workforce challenges.  These private/public partnerships are investing wisely in "Better Skills/Better Jobs" for Oregon's future.

But without adequate resources and WIA Reauthorization our ability to continue to be effective is at risk.  We need Congressional support NOW!!