The GWDC Learned:

• Staffing a WorkForce Center to serve businesses effectively is a challenge. Business needs are oftentimes sporadic. They have periods where they are going through hiring or layoffs, but their needs are never consistent. Many times all businesses are hiring or laying-off at one time, so developing a staffing plan to meet their needs is a challenge.
  
  
• Even though businesses are considered the primary customer of the WorkForce Center System by the current administration, there are still jobseekers lined up for services at the WorkForce Centers as well. Without the staffing and resources at the local level to support both business and jobseeker needs, those who get service are those who are willing to wait in line. Businesses are not willing to wait. The lack of staff at the local level leads to a downward spiral of decreasing funds even when a WorkForce Center is trying to be entrepreneurial to increase the funds available.
  
  
• WorkForce Centers are trying to be innovative, but they do not have the resources to follow through on their innovations. Innovative ideas take resources to implement even if those innovations result in a net influx of resources into the system. If Minnesota's WorkForce Centers do not have the resources to make innovative changes to their programs, then the WorkForce Centers may become obsolete. Resources are dwindling from the federal level to support WorkForce Centers. Many people say that if there is innovation, then that innovation will be supported financially. The question is, "What comes first the innovation or the resources?
  
  
  
• Some public policy changes that would help Minnesota ensure it can continue to provide education and training to meet industry needs are:
  
  Strategic leadership priority: Like the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, the WorkForce Center System must make business / industry needs a priority. The Department of Employment and Economic Development has asserted that businesses are the primary customer of the WorkForce Center System. However, service providers still receive more face to face contact with jobseekers, which makes their issues seem more pressing.
  
  Statutory change: The WorkForce Center System should be measured on whether the system is meeting the needs of businesses within their communities. The Department of Employment and Economic Development has begun this process through the development of system measures, and a portion of those measures will focus on the employer customer.
  
  Budget / funding recommendations: The Department of Employment and Economic Development should ensure funding is available to serve businesses in the way they need to be served: quickly. Currently the WorkForce Center System does not have the staffing necessary for meeting business needs and increased staff capacity requires additional resources.