Tag Archive for 'jobs creation'

Audit Finds State Needs To Better Match Job Training with Workforce Demand

Published on June 13, 2012 in Audits, Headlines, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

SALEM – A Secretary of State audit finds that training for middle-skill workers is projected to fall short of employer needs for several occupations over the next 10 years. These middle-skill jobs, such as bookkeepers, truck drivers, and computer support specialists, are important to Oregon’s economy. Middle-skill jobs require some education and training beyond high school but less than a bachelor’s degree. Supply for these occupations is primarily from Oregon’s community colleges, private career colleges, and from state apprenticeship programs.

Comparing graduation rates to job forecasts by the Employment Department, auditors estimate that the colleges need to increase the Chart of occupations projected to have largest workforce gapssupply of bookkeepers by 656 each year for the next ten years to serve employer needs.

“Increasing the number of middle-skilled workers in Oregon is an important element of job creation and expanding business in Oregon,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “Some Oregon employers have noted that in spite of high unemployment, it is still hard to find workers with the right skills.”

In contrast, auditors also found some occupations where there is a projected annual oversupply of trained middle-skill workers, including insurance sales agents and health care support workers, such as massage therapists and medical equipment preparers.

“We need a strategic, coordinated, statewide plan that identifies high demand jobs or industries with projected under-supply and train accordingly,” said Secretary Brown. “Having an adequate supply of skilled workers is central to a strong economy.”

Auditors recommend that the state’s workforce development efforts identify high-demand occupational clusters, and apply strategies to address any gaps in training. In addition, auditors recommend that the state consider aligning state funding to account for the higher cost of some career and technical education programs at the community colleges.

The audit report including the agency response can be found at www.sos.state.or.us/audits.

For more information, please contact

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director
Oregon Secretary of State
503-986-2368
503-507-0082

Secretary of State Kate Brown releases audit recommendations for jobs and business expansion at Vigor Industrial in Portland

Published on June 12, 2012 in Audits and Secretary Brown. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

PRESS ADVISORY
June 11, 2012

Media Contact:
Andrea Cantu-Schomus, 503-986-2368

(Salem, OR) – On Wednesday, June 13, Secretary of State Kate Brown will release an audit of Oregon’s Workforce Development. Auditors found Oregon could be doing a better job of matching middle-skilled training programs at Oregon’s Community Colleges and the many other workforce development programs with current and projected job demand.

“We need a more strategic, coordinated, statewide plan that identifies high demand jobs or industries with a projected under-supply and offer training to get these Oregonians to work,” said Secretary Brown. “We need more partnerships like Vigor Industrial and Portland Community College where men and women in search of a career can get the training they need to get hired right out of school.”

Secretary Brown will tour Vigor Industrial’s Swan Island Training Facility with PCC President, Dr. Preston Pulliams and representatives from Vigor Industrial. On the grounds of the Portland shipyard, this joint venture provides welding training opportunities that support workforce development for Vigor Industrial and other area companies.

Vigor Industrial/PCC Swan Island Training Facility
10:00 AM
5555 N. Channel Ave
Portland, Oregon 97217

The entrance to the training center is off Lagoon Avenue.

Secretary of State’s public-private partnership creates jobs in eastern Oregon

Published on May 3, 2012 in Archives, Press Releases, Road Trips, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Press Release
May 3, 2012

SALEM – Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown will celebrate the public-private partnership with Chaves Consulting, Inc. at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. on May 4, 2012 in Baker City, Oregon. This unique partnership allows the Secretary of State’s office to implement the first statewide electronic records management solution, the first of its kind in the country. Oregon’s Records Management Solution (ORMS) is estimated to create more than 25 jobs in eastern Oregon.

“In rural eastern Oregon 25 jobs is significant; it is equivalent to 2,500 jobs in the Portland metro area,” said Secretary Brown. “I am so proud of this partnership. The work allows us to create jobs, preserve Oregon’s history and provide better services to Oregonians at a lower cost.”

ORMS allows for the simplification of records management across the entire state and local government using Hewlett Packard’s software called TRIM. Additionally, this single records management system will enable Oregon to gain economies of scale, cost savings, as well as greater efficiencies due to the consolidation of workloads and reduction of duplicative storage. The system copies, stores, archives and retrieves records creating less work for staff. It also reduces the chances of losing records and is sustainable, decreasing the need for paper and storage.

Cities such as Beaverton, West Linn and Milwaukie; state agencies – Public Utilities Commission and pilot field offices from the Department of Human Services Children, Adults and Families Division; Tillamook County and Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District have all joined as pilot agencies. Additional state and local government agencies are expected to join this year.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at the Synergy Data Center in Baker City. This state of the art facility houses stores the data for ORMS and other clients such as the Wyoming and Missouri Secretaries of State.

For more information, please contact

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director
Oregon Secretary of State
503-986-2368
503-507-0082

Sec Brown: Finding ways to contribute to job creation

Published on February 29, 2012 in Secretary Brown, Social Media and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Salem Downtown Rotary

As Oregon’s Secretary of State I wear many hats. I am the chief elections officer, the auditor of public funds, the first stop for business registrations and the keeper of Oregon’s history. I also serve as lieutenant governor.

Each of these jobs is extremely important. However, in these tough economic times I am also working hard to find ways that my divisions can contribute to job creation in our great state.

I think it is fair to say that none of us has a silver bullet that will fix our economy. Yet there are several developments that keep me optimistic about Oregon’s future. The number of business registrations in Oregon is up from a year ago and our unemployment rate continues to drop.

On a national scale, Forbes labels Oregon sixth in the nation for most business friendly. And Oregon is also ranked second in the nation for the number of innovators filing for patents, with Utah being the first. These are all great indicators of progress and enough to give me hope for Oregon’s future prosperity.

Some of the projects helping to create jobs include a public private partnership with Chaves Consulting, a family owned business out of Baker City. This project will create nearly 100 jobs in rural Oregon. We are also in the process of creating an online business portal that will assist would-be business owners quickly set up shop and hire employees in Oregon. Our auditing function is also analyzing our workforce development efforts in community colleges, thus ensuring those looking for work have the skills they need to fill jobs.

As your Secretary of State, I am adding to my formal roles a focus on creating jobs and getting Oregon back on track to a bright and prosperous future.

 

For more information, please contact:

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director

Oregon Secretary of State

503-986-2368
503-507-0082

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Secretary Brown Leads Effort to Create Online One-Stop-Shop for Business

Published on October 7, 2011 in Corporation, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Secretary of State Kate Brown is leading the effort to develop Oregon’s Central Business Registry which provides an online one-stop-shop for those looking to do business in our great state. This online system will enable entrepreneurs to create a business and comply with all state and federal regulations. The goal of this online registry is to save time and money as well as create jobs in Oregon.

Addressing members of the Salem City Club today, Secretary Brown described how the Oregon Central Business Registry will enhance the ease of doing business.