Massachusetts Invests Millions in Job Training, Employment Services

Under
the Massachusetts Recovery Plan, Gov. Deval Patrick has invested more
than $67 million of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA) in job training and employment services for Massachusetts
workers. Much of the funding will support 37 One-Stop career centers
located throughout the state.

Gov. Patrick allocated more than $4.9 million to the Boston
Private Industry Council and job training centers in the city of
Boston; $1.9 million to the Cape and islands; $1.79 million to
Northampton and surrounding communities; $2.59 million to the North
Shore area; $4.3 million to central Massachusetts; and $4.6 million to
the Fall River area. Patrick also dedicated more than $21 million to
programs targeting workers between 14 and 24 years of age.

"During this difficult economic time, workforce training
dollars will go a long way to help unemployed workers prepare for the
jobs that Massachusetts organizations and businesses have to offer,"
Lieutenant Gov. Timothy Murray said.

Nationally, employee layoffs reached a historic high of
558,909 for the first quarter of 2009, more than double the total for
the first quarter of 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported. The layoffs set records across 12 industry sectors, affecting
businesses of every size and workers at all skill levels.

The state's One-Stop career centers offer a broad range of
services to help employers navigate the recession and prepare for
recovery, including recruiting and hiring assistance, workforce
partnerships, seminars, and information on tax credits and grants. The
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development also offers
programs such as WorkSharing, which provides alternative strategies for
businesses contemplating layoffs, and Rapid Response, which helps
businesses in transition. For more information, visit www.mass.gov/careercenters.

Contributed by BLR, Inc. Read plain-English analysis on Training in Massachusetts.