Resources

MISSION STATEMENT

The State Employment and Training Commission (SETC) was created by law in 1989. As an advisory body reporting to the Governor, its primary mission is to provide a forum where individuals representing government, business, labor, and the general public can work together to create policy initiatives for the workforce readiness system. Its goal is to improve the skills of New Jersey's workforce by creating a cohesive statewide system of employment, training and education programs and services. The Commission works with State and local government agencies to ensure the implementation of agreed upon policies. The Commission is the “State Workforce Investment Board” under the federal Workforce Investment Act.

The Governor appoints the Chairman and nominates the members for Senate confirmation. Commission membership consists of representatives from business, labor, private citizens, community-based organizations and elected officials. The Commissioners from the Departments of Community Affairs, Education, Human Services and Labor and the Executive Directors of the Commission on Higher Education and the Commerce and Economic Growth Commission also serve on the Commission. These members serve without compensation. The diverse bipartisan membership of the SETC ensures that all concerned parties can fully participate in developing public policy.

COMMISSION ACTIVITIES

POLICY PAPERS

Among its many activities, the Commission analyzes critical issues relating to improving the quality of the workforce and provides policy guidance to enhance New Jersey’s employment, training and education system. A number of policy documents have been developed by the Commission on issues of concern to planning for employment and training. They include:

• New Jersey in Transition:  The Crisis of the Workforce*
• A Unified State Plan for New Jersey’s Workforce Readiness System *
• Balancing the Equation: A Report on Gender Equity in Education *
• Linking Education and the Workplace: An Imperative for New Jersey’s Economic Future*
• Standing Corrected: Education and the Rehabilitation of Criminal Offenders *
• Leveling the Playing Field: Removing Barriers for Women in New Jersey’s Employment and Training Programs*
• The Literacy Connection – Improving Adult Literacy in New Jersey
• Opportunity for All: Recommendations of the Workgroup on Persons with Disabilities*
• Adult Literacy in New Jersey: Meeting the Challenge of the 21st Century*
• Youth At Work: Making it in the Global Economy*
• Women at Work – Achieving Parity on the Job*
• Women and Work: Prospects for Parity in the New Economy*
• Bridging the Gap: Gender Equity in Science, Engineering and Technology*
• Healthcare Workforce Outlook – The Nursing Shortage in New Jersey and the United States: Suggestions for Future Research and Policy*

* Indicates documents that can be downloaded from the SETC home page: www.njsetc.net/

New Jersey in Transition: The Crisis of the Workforce is a White Paper regarding the critical issue of New Jersey’s workforce needs.   The purpose in writing the Paper was to provide New Jersey’s leaders with the Commission’s best thinking about the condition of the State’s workforce and how it matches up with employer demand.   The Paper has been the foundation of the Governor’s consolidation of workforce programs and the creation of a new Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The Commission promotes collaborative planning and program development within the workforce development system.   An example of this is A Unified State Plan for New Jersey’s Workforce Readiness System - The Unified State Plan was developed by a broad array of individuals from the public and private sectors, State and local governments, private industries, business and community-based organizations. All these individuals participated in the drafting of both editions of the State Plan, so that the policy recommendations contained in the plan truly represent those of and for the workforce readiness system.

ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER SYSTEM

The SETC has played a key role in establishing New Jersey’s One-Stop Career Center System. The system will ultimately provide streamlined delivery of services to all those seeking assistance. The One-Stop System is a collaborative effort on the part of all the Workforce Readiness Departments to link staff, physical locations, and services so that there will truly be no wrong door for accessing services.    The SETC has also been working with the Departments of Education and Labor to institutionalize the active participation of the Workforce Investment Boards as a major component of New Jersey’s educational system at the local level.  Finally, the SETC has facilitated planning efforts at the State and local levels to position New Jersey’s workforce readiness system to better respond to the needs of welfare recipients.

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARDS

The Commission’s recommendations led to the   1995 issuance of Executive Order #36, which formally established local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) as an integral part of New Jersey’s workforce readiness system. The SETC provides support for WIBs as they develop their plans and policies for improving the workforce readiness system at the local level.

DEMAND SIDE STUDY

The Commission believes that America's labor market has been undergoing a profound transformation and that because of the transformation it was more crucial for schools to be fully aware of the skills that employers were seeking.  The purpose of this study was to better understand the current and short-term future skills, competency, and educational requirements demanded by important industries in New Jersey, leading to the development of a skills-centered workforce development system to address the demand.

To address these concerns and to assist Counselors, Parents, Teachers and Administrators, the SETC worked with our partners at the Departments of Education and Labor, along with the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and NJ Biz to create a website www.njnextstop.org. It is the purpose of this website to portray the skills demanded by the employer community.

STATE COUNCIL FOR ADULT LITERACY EDUCATION SERVICES

The State Council for Adult Literacy Education Services (SCALES) is a bipartisan body created within the State Employment and Training Commission by Public Law 1999, c. 107, developed to facilitate statewide and local policy development, planning and oversight in consultation with the stakeholders in the area of adult literacy education.  Members of the Council are appointed variously by the Governor and State Senate and Assembly as outlined in the law.   The Council consists of 21 members.

COUNCIL ON GENDER PARITY IN LABOR AND EDUCATION

On September 12, 1999, Bill S1448 was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, establishing, within the State Employment and Training Commission, a permanent Council on Gender Parity in Labor and Education.  This Council is believed to be the first such body of its kind in the nation, and oversees the State's efforts to provide gender equity in labor, education, and training.  The Council consists of eight members and representatives from state agencies.

CONSUMER REPORT CARD

The Consumer Report Card is mandated by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).  Those institutions that receive workforce money must show employment and wage performance by comparing participant records to unemployment insurance wage records.  The system brings together, in a useful format, administrative data on individuals who receive education and training services under federal, state, or local funded programs, including Customized Training.

The website currently contains all training providers, both in-state and out-of-state, that have been approved by the appropriate State Agency to be included on the New Jersey State Eligible Training Provider list. The system is designed to capture information about students to enable customers to view the training program’s success and can be accessed at www.njtrainingsystems.org.