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ETA News Release: [09/29/2003]
Contact Name: Lorette
Post
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984
U.S. Labor Official Participates in International
Meeting to Discuss Labor and Workforce Issues
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to Meet in
Paris
WASHINGTON—Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco this week
is representing the United States at the Paris meeting of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The meeting, held every five years, brings together labor and workforce
leaders from the 30 member countries of the OECD. In keeping with this
year’s theme, “Toward More and Better Jobs,” labor leaders from
four continents are participating in discussions ranging from mobilizing
under-represented groups to the need for continual efforts to create more jobs
and increase the skill levels of workers worldwide.
In her role as U.S. delegate, DeRocco is presenting America’s
current workforce investment agenda, which attempts to increase the efficiency
of labor markets, the competitiveness of employers, and the prospects of all
workers through an efficient, demand-driven workforce investment system.
“The driving force of any economy is its workforce, and discussions
like these help us prepare and plan for the future to ensure that workers all
over the world are given the opportunity for lasting success,” said
DeRocco. “Key to the success of America’s labor market strategy is
our focus on a demand-driven public workforce investment system that seeks to
provide workers with skills training for the jobs that businesses tell us they
need to fill.”
In addition to discussing America’s current workforce agenda and
strategies for enhancing the functioning of U.S. labor markets, DeRocco will
share information about the U.S. Labor Department’s High Growth Job
Training Initiative, a systematic approach to creating the demand-driven
workforce system.
Each of the 30 representatives involved in the conference are invited to
provide a national statement on workforce issues and concerns and the ways in
which they are being addressing. The OECD meetings are taking place in Paris,
France, Sept. 29 and 30.
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