Speaking for Nevada - October 2006

Question: What is the Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation doing to help ease the shrinking qualified workforce?

The Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) regularly releases economic reports confirming that Nevada’s job market is among the best in the nation. Our remarkable economy equates to great opportunities for Nevada’s working citizens, but can be a great source of angst for the employer community. Most are aware there is a shortage of skilled workers for businesses seeking to keep up with the state’s massive growth.

Because of this shortage, DETR remains one of the state’s most valuable resources. Our role is very tangible. DETR strives to maintain Nevada’s economic health by getting people employed and keeping them employed. However, just as important is its success in serving the employer population by helping maintain a robust pool of skilled workers.

DETR encompasses four divisions: Employment Security Division (ESD), Rehabilitation Division, the Equal Rights Commission and the Information Development and Processing Division (IDP). Additionally, DETR is a major partner in the JobConnect System, staffing JobConnect offices throughout the state. These divisions work with JobConnect to deliver services that strengthen Nevada’s employment environment.

The Employment Security Division works with JobConnect to provide training and job placement for those entering or reentering the job market. There are many reasons people are not working. Sometimes they cannot afford equipment or clothing required for a specific job. Often, these are hard-working individuals who have fallen on hard times. Therefore, we have the Client Enhancement Program, which pays for items such as sheriff’s cards, tools and uniforms.

Through JobConnect, ESD develops partnerships with employers to identify appropriate workers. Other less common avenues to explore in hiring skilled workers are youth, displaced homemakers and disabled persons. These populations are very eager to work. Because of the demand for labor, employers must be prepared to tap potential resources not previously considered.

The Rehabilitation Division has a variety of services for disabled persons who may need some assistance getting into the job market. This division offers services that help the disabled function independently. The division encourages employers to tap into this population of enthusiastic citizens. Often an employer is not aware that by supplying simple assistive equipment, a disabled person can become a valuable member of the employer’s team. Additionally, the rehabilitation division works with the school district to help disabled students transition into the workforce. Again, this becomes another group of skilled workers for Nevada.

It takes a collective effort to solve this emerging problem of the decreasing qualified workforce. That’s why DETR proactively partners with employers. The Equal Rights Commission, for example, does not just investigate claims of discrimination, but it also provides employer services to help make the workplace the kind of environment where a skilled worker would want to stay. Staff is available to provide informational training to employers about workplace discrimination and fairness.

There are many different components to this issue, which will continue to escalate as the workforce ages and baby boomers retire. There must be a shift in thinking. Times are gone when a person has only one job until retirement. Companies now offer attractive incentives and excellent training programs leading employees to make regular job changes.

DETR focuses on assessment of workers as well. We find they are looking for growth opportunities, good benefits, good pay and healthy work environments. It’s imperative that companies treat their current employees like the valuable commodities they are and begin offering more incentives and the best possible benefits. Essentially, we must recognize the worker as an individual with goals and needs, and businesses as places where those goals and needs can be met.