ETA News Release: [Fri., June 18, 2004]
Contact Name: Ted Fitzgerald
Phone Number: 617-565-2072
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor Carries Message on Economy and 21st Century Skills to Portsmouth Workforce Conference
PORTSMOUTH, NH - U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco brought a message to New Hampshire today about the improving economy and industries that will experience growth over the next decade. DeRocco's remarks were delivered to employers and human resource professionals attending the Boston Regional Conference in Portsmouth.
"This conference provides a great opportunity for collaboration between employers, human resource professionals, educators and the public workforce system," said DeRocco. "The President's initiatives stress the importance of these public-private partnerships in meeting the needs of employers, while preparing workers for success in today's 21st century global economy."
DeRocco's visit to New Hampshire comes the same day that new federal data show the state's unemployment rate held steady at 4.0 percent in May, well below the national average of 5.6 percent. The new numbers also show that unemployment is lower today in 46 states, including New Hampshire, than it was a year ago.
"The recent economic data show that President Bush's economic policies are working," said DeRocco.
In her keynote address, DeRocco provided information on current Department of Labor efforts to meet today's critical workforce needs and touted the 3,500 One-Stop Career Centers at the heart of the nation's $15 billion public workforce system. The Assistant Secretary also outlined the President's job training proposals, the roll of government in job training and the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative.
The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to better prepare workers to take advantage of new job opportunities in high growth sectors of the American economy. Through executive forums with leaders of expanding industries, critical workforce gaps and issues are identified. Solutions are then created in cooperation with employers, educational institutions, and the public workforce system.
For more information on the Department of Labor's employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov.
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