I've been deeply disturbed in the past two weeks at the growing conservative rhetoric drawing criticism of our nation's employment and training supports. The line of reasoning raises doubt if programs funded though the Workforce Investment Act, among other sources, have had any benefit or impact at all. Even sources such as CBS Evening News profiled instances of fraud at workforce programs across the country. To my surprise, the reporter then drew a line to the "fact" that these systems aren't working and that there is a growing call to eliminate these programs entirely. I was outraged. I felt that it was unconscionable to link fraud with program failure and the broad announcement, as proof, of the failure of the workforce system is that there have not been any rigorous evaluations to date. I was livid at the circuitous logic.
This was followed up a few days later with the announcement that the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee was proposing broad spending cuts across all workforce programs. If passed, this bill would eliminate all funding, over $3.6 billion, for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) in Program Year 2011, and calls for a $175 million rescission of prior year funds.
I've been struggling with the prospect of the wholesale elimination of a publicly funded workforce system I deeply believe in. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of these specific budget eliminations. I return, again and again, in my mind to the logic that these programs aren't about getting just anybody, any job. They are about helping those most impacted by poverty, globalism, prejudice, inequitable education, and aspiring non-traditional workers to get into life-changing career paths. These people need programs like these to get a leg up into a workforce that otherwise won't let them in. If we cut these programs, they won't have a chance and everyone will be affected.
Despite conservative claims of the uselessness of these programs, there are in fact rigorous evaluations of WIA. Their findings show a system that in fact does increase access to customer driven employment services in a streamlined and coordinated fashion. This was not the case under JTPA. Point people to the work at Mathematica which is currently leading a rigorous 5 year evaluation, started in 2008, of the WIA services. A prior national evaluation of WIA was completed in 2004 by Social Policy Research Associates.
I'm sensing a growing shift in Obama's policies away from a Keynsian approach, which served as the economic model during the latter part of the Great Depression, to a supply-side approach that promotes a government that doesn't try to influence the amount of money that consumers have to spend on goods and services but, rather, the amount of incentive that producers are given to engage in productive enterprise. The New Yorker is calling it Sputnikonomics and points to Obama's recent outreach to IT giants last week as evidence. I think there is room for both approaches or our most needy will be left behind. I urge those in leadership in our country to continue to support and fund these programs so that all job seekers can continue to have the opportunity to take advantage of career counseling and training services.
Amanda Gerrie
Amanda Gerrie
1 comment:
Your analysis is excellent and I will pass it on to others. I do think while the attacks are unwarranted the workforce system has made itself vulnerable to them in a variety of ways. We are the largest federal line item that does not have an all encompassing comprehensive national organization that could coordinate lobbying and education. There are plenty of organizations with national in their name but they only represent part of our system. Also we have not set performance standards that would show us how well we are doing with the business community so they don't rally to our defense. If the business community defended us many of these attacks would not work. Are we a spice in their profit margin or an ingredient? We really don't know. There has not been enough education of elected officials about the economic value of our work. We make the social value case but its a weak argument in this era. We need to do more return on investment analysis. Our system has an incredible economic value but the case has not been made in enough places. While the root of this problem of attacks on our system lies in reactionary mind sets and Obama's lack of support its also true that we are vulnerable due to both external and internal factors. As the old adage goes the enemy does not defeat you. You defeat yourself. Keep up the great work Amanda!
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