Employment and Training Administration

USDL-ETA-99-100-8-5
CONTACT: Kate Dugan                                     FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
OFFICE:                                                 Thursday August 5, 1999

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR GIVES PENNSYLVANIA GREEN LIGHT
TO IMPLEMENT HISTORIC WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SYSTEM

Pennsylvania is one of 10 states that have moved forward in starting a new approach to employment and training delivery services made possible by last year's passage of the Workforce Investment Act. The U.S. Department of Labor has authorized the state and nine others to begin to implement the new system, which replaces the Job Training Partnership Act.

"Pennsylvania and the other nine states have taken the lead in creating America's Jobs Network - the job training system of the future," Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman said. "Workers across the country will benefit from the changes as this new system is adopted nationwide."

Pennsylvania has been authorized to transition to the Workforce Investment Act, and plans to implement all components of the Act by January 1, 200. Between now and then, it will will set up local Workforce Investment Boards throughout the state, develop an individual training voucher system, and continue to build and strengthen statewide one-stop "CareerLink" offices. The state plans to appoint local Youth Councils this month, which will oversee job and job training efforts for out-of-school youth at the local level.

Pennsylvania also recently became one of the first states to partner with the Department on a groundbreaking new service for dislocated workers - a toll-free hotline providing information and linkage to unemployment compensation and job training programs. Pennsylvanians can access the services by dialing 1-877-US-2JOBS.

States have until July 1, 2000 to convert to the Workforce Investment Act. The Act:

• gives states and localities more authority to tailor programs to their local needs;
• continues to strengthen "One-Stop" service delivery offices to provide easy access to information on jobs and job training for all Americans;
• establishes Individual Training Accounts so people can make personal training choices, and;
• emphasizes jobs and job training for young people.

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