21st Century Sector Strategies:
Best Practices from California’s WIBs
Co-Sponsors
California Community
Colleges
PowerPathway™
Presenters/Moderators
Jim Cassio, Jim Cassio & Associates
Gary Craft, Craft Consulting Group
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sectorstrategyexperts.com
California’s Strategic Workforce
Development Plan
Calls for aligning the state’s workforce institutions and
programs around the needs of regional growth sectors.
Essential elements of the plan include industry sector
partnerships with deep employer engagement that
develop career pathway programs that meet the
workforce needs of high demand sectors of the state
and regional economies.
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What are Sector Strategies?
Sector strategies build partnerships between
employers, training providers, community
organizations, and other key stakeholders around
specific industries to address the workforce needs of
employers and the training, employment, and career
advancement needs of workers.
- NGA Center for Best Practices
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Today’s Agenda
I. Welcome & Introductions – Jim Cassio
II. Survey Summary – Jim Cassio
III. Perspectives of Local WIBs
Moderators – Jim Cassio & Gary Craft
Panelists –
Kris Stadelman (NOVA)
Stephen Baiter (Contra Costa)
Kelley Fry (San Diego)
Blake Konczal (Fresno)
IV. Best Practices Summary – Gary Craft
V. Wrap-Up – Jim Cassio
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Sector Strategy Survey Summary
• Surveys conducted by phone and online
with California WIB Directors (or their
designees) in March and April of 2014
• 63% Response Rate (31 out of 49)
• We plan to achieve a 75%+ response
rate by mid-May
• An e-report (PDF) with the survey results
and our analysis will be available by the
end of June
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Target Industry Sectors
Healthcare
Advanced Manufacturing
Energy & Energy Efficiency
Construction
Transportation & Logistics
Reasons for choosing industry sector
• Target industry was experiencing labor shortage
• Encouraging growth in target sector
• Improve industry competitiveness
• Retain industry in community
• Prepare industry for demographic or
technological changes
• Largest or fastest growing sector
• Importance to local/regional economy
Green Economy & Clean Technology
Hospitality & Tourism
Agriculture
Water & Waste Water
Information & Communication Technology
Biotechnology & Life Sciences
0%
10%
20%
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Total Responses = 30
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Year Sector Strategy Initiated
29 of 31 WIB’s
Considering Launching
a Sector Strategy in
2014 or 2015
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Number of WIB's (n=30)
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Before
2007
6
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Methodology Employed
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Career Pathways
Initiative or Partnership
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Cluster of Opportunity
Partnership
Custom Sector
Strategy Approach
Industry Cluster Based
Sector Strategy
Occupation Focused
Sector Strategy
Focused On Population
Group
Target Population Groups
• Incumbent workers
• Displaced/unemployed workers
• Youth
• Veterans
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Role of WIBs
Stimulators of Sector
Initiative
Sector Intermediary
Vehicle for Financing
Supportive Partner
Sector Supportive Policy
Training Provider
0%
9
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Constraints
Staffing
Financial
Lack of Information on Best
Practices
Sector Strategy Expertise
0%
10
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
The Keystone to Connecting Career
Pathways to Industry Cluster Growth
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Source: “State Sector Strategies, Coming of Age:
Implications for State Workforce Policymakers”, National
Governors Association Center for Best Practices
What WIBs Are Saying About Best Practices
“Combination of labor market research, including workforce needs assessments,
and the industry-led roundtable discussions are key to getting the various parties
working collaboratively on shared goals and objectives.”
“Use Industry Association as intermediary to seat and staff sector panel.”
“Direct employer input for curriculum design.”
“Meeting directly in person with industry partners.”
“Identify the champions first.”
“Track, monitor and measure results.”
“Talk to employers in the sector (CEO Roundtables or on an individual basis) to
identify their workforce needs, record the data, report it back to them, and get
their feedback to make sure you really understood what they said. Bring teachers
to the table to talk directly to employers about curriculum and assist them in
building relationships that are win-win.”
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Five Common Elements
• Data driven analysis (quantitative, qualitative)
• Industry led
• Target industries that are important to the regional or
state economy
• Defined outcomes that are measurable and actionable
• Performance metrics to measure accomplishments
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Contact Information
www.sectorstrategyexperts.com
Jim Cassio
Jim Cassio & Associates
(916) 320-4944
jim7@cassio.com
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Gary Craft
Craft Consulting Group
(925) 283-4981
craft@craftconsulting.net