WISCONSIN Department of Workforce Development BIENNIAL REPORT 2011 - 2013 Advancing Wisconsin’s economy and business climate by empowering and supporting the workforce. SEC-8746-P (R.10/2013) Department of Workforce Development Secretary’s Office 201 E. Washington Avenue Insert Date Here P.O. Box 7946 Madison, WI 53707-7946 Telephone: (608) 266-3131 Fax: (608) 266-1784 Email: [email protected] Scott Walker, Governor Reginald J. Newson, Secretary October 15, 2013 The Honorable Scott Walker Office of the Governor 115 East, State Capitol Madison, WI 53702 Wisconsin State Legislators State Capitol Building Madison, WI 53702 Dear Governor Walker and Members of the Legislature: I am pleased to provide you with this report on the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) for the biennium ending June 30, 2013. Under your leadership as Governor and working with our partners in the Legislature, we at DWD are proceeding on multiple fronts to support your goal of equipping workers with the skills needed to fill jobs that are available in today’s growing Wisconsin economy. Our mission at DWD is advancing Wisconsin’s economy and business climate by empowering and supporting the workforce, and our vision is building the workforce to move Wisconsin forward. This report spans two years of workforce development efforts, but I want to note briefly some of our accomplishments: Connecting Job Seekers to Jobs – The number of veterans entering employment following DWD employment and training assistance increased by 5 percent. With DWD vocational rehabilitation assistance, 3,520 people with disabilities achieved their employment goals in fiscal year 2013, and their estimated annual earnings equal a more than 200 percent return on taxpayer investment in their services. Nearly 10,100 dislocated workers found new jobs with DWD assistance. Nearly 4,300 employers and over 48,800 job seekers participated in 754 specialized recruiting events. Unemployment Insurance – The Department has worked to more closely integrate unemployment insurance programs with employment and training services to move individuals from unemployment to employment. Steps have been taken to strengthen and improve the integrity of the unemployment insurance program, including the implementation of a new law increasing penalties for acts of fraud. Governor’s Council on Workforce Investment – In step with efforts to create a more business friendly environment, the Governor’s Council on Workforce Investment has greater private sector representation. The council has provided a list of workforce priorities and recommendations to help advance the administration’s goals of moving the economy forward and providing employment opportunities. As we enter a new biennium, we anticipate greater success with more far reaching results, particularly with the implementation of the Wisconsin Fast Forward initiative that includes $15 million in customized worker training grants and authority to develop a state-of-the-art Labor Market Information System (LMIS) to provide more precise, real-time data so vital to the decisions affecting Wisconsin’s economy and workforce. UCD-7352-E (R. 05/2013) http://unemployment.wisconsin.gov The powerful new Skill Explorer website that you recently announced will complement these efforts and help job seekers seek new opportunities based on their skills and abilities, not just occupational titles. We are pleased to part of your efforts to advance Wisconsin’s economy and create new employment opportunities for the people of Wisconsin, and we look forward to continued success. Sincerely, Reggie Newson Secretary Department of Workforce Development Biennial Report 2011-2013 Table of Contents Workforce Information and Technical Department Overview ............................ 1 Support .......................................................... 35 Workforce Investment Act (WIA) .................... 36 DWD Organization ................................. 4 Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program (WOTC) ......................................................... 39 2013 – 2015 Executive Budget Youth Apprenticeship ..................................... 39 Programs, Goals, Objectives and Activities ................................................ 5 Division of Vocational Rehabilitation ...................................... 43 Division Summaries ............................... 7 Mission .......................................................... 43 Division of Employment and Training ............... 7 Program Summary ......................................... 43 Division of Vocational Rehabilitation ................ 7 Accomplishments 2011-2013......................... 45 Division of Unemployment Insurance ............... 7 Upcoming Initiatives ....................................... 48 Worker’s Compensation Division ..................... 7 Equal Rights Division ....................................... 7 Division of Unemployment Administrative Services Division ...................... 8 Insurance ............................................ 49 Mission .......................................................... 49 Attached Units ....................................... 9 Program Summary ......................................... 49 Labor and Industry Review Commission .......... 9 Accomplishments 2011-2013......................... 49 Bureau of Legal Affairs .............................. 50 Internal Structure and Department Bureau of Tax & Accounting...................... 51 Management ....................................... 10 Upcoming Initiatives ....................................... 52 Deputy Secretary ........................................... 10 Assistant Deputy Secretary ............................ 10 Worker’s Compensation Division ......... 55 Legislative Liaison .......................................... 10 Mission .......................................................... 55 Office of Communications .............................. 10 Program Summary ......................................... 55 Office of Chief Legal Counsel ........................ 10 Accomplishments 2011-2013......................... 55 Office of Policy and Budget ............................ 11 Bureau of Insurance Programs ................. 55 Office of Skills Development .......................... 11 Bureau of Claims Management ................. 56 Upcoming Initiatives ....................................... 57 Division of Employment and Training ... 12 Mission ........................................................... 12 Equal Rights Division .......................... 58 Programs and Services .................................. 12 Mission .......................................................... 58 Apprenticeship ............................................... 12 Program Summary ......................................... 58 Civil Rights ..................................................... 14 Accomplishments 2011-2013......................... 58 Council on Workforce Investment .................. 14 Job Service .................................................... 20 Administrative Services Division .......... 59 Labor Market Information ............................... 27 Mission .......................................................... 59 Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Business Services ......................................... 59 Program ......................................................... 28 Accomplishments 2011-2013......................... 59 Office of Veterans Services............................ 33 Upcoming Initiatives ....................................... 64 Department of Workforce Development Biennial Report 2011-2013 October 2013 Department Overview The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is the state agency charged with advancing Wisconsin’s economy and business climate by empowering and supporting the workforce. The Department’s vision is building a workforce to move Wisconsin forward, in part by supporting Governor Walker’s workforce development agenda. This requires a close partnership with the private sector to make available the resources necessary to ensure a skilled and talented workforce that will lead to high-wage, high-skill jobs for all Wisconsinites. DWD supports a broad spectrum of employment programs and services available throughout the state at numerous service locations and on the internet at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov. These programs and services provide specialized training, recruitment and retention assistance to private-sector businesses and to potential employees. DWD is also responsible for administering the state’s unemployment insurance program, investigating complaints of workplace discrimination, and coordinating worker’s compensation insurance. At DWD, there is a commitment to ensuring that training and employment opportunities are aligned to high-wage, high-growth jobs and that the private sector is an active and engaged participant in matching the current workforce with current and future labor demands. The Department is led by Secretary Reggie Newson, appointed by Governor Scott Walker in October 2011. The annual operating budget for DWD is over $450 million, and its staff totals approximately 1,750 full-time equivalent positions. DWD currently consists of five program divisions, an administrative services division, and one administratively-attached entity, the Labor and Industry Review Commission (LIRC). DWD’s achievements in the 2011-13 Biennium are significant. Continued activities of the recently reconstituted Council on Workforce Investment