By Bonnie Adams, Government Editor
Westborough –After hearing a presentation at its March 6 meeting from Jeffrey Turgeon, the executive director of the Central Mass. Workforce Investment Board (WIB), the Westborough Economic Development Committee (EDC) said that it was in support of the WIB's mission of helping to create opportunities for businesses and job seekers alike.
Turgeon told the EDC that there are 16 WIBs throughout the commonwealth. Each WIB is a public/private partnership that is charged with overseeing federal funds that are allocated by the state. Each board is composed of members of the business community, representatives from labor, education and economic development, community-based organizations and required public agencies such as veterans groups and vocational resource training organizations.
The Central Mass. WIB covers 38 cities and towns, including Northborough, Shrewsbury and Westborough. As such, it works to identify where the skill gap lies in the local economy and what can be done to bring in new resources that will benefit both job seekers and employers.
Approximately 20,000 job seekers and 1,100 employers used at least one service from the Central Mass. WIB last year, Turgeon said. Some of those services included posting or reviewing job listings, computer training, and occupational or on-the-job training.
Turgeon added that although many of the jobs the WIB has posted are for lower paying jobs, there have also been high-tech positions. He added that manufacturing has “rebounded” in central Massachusetts. But, he noted, the jobs are not the manufacturing jobs of old; these jobs require a moderate to higher skill level.
“A lot of the older generation has retired from these jobs,” he said. “There is now a lack of skilled employees who have the technical skills needed to fill the empty positions.”
The WIB also has programs, such as “Job1 for Youth,”” he said, which is geared to help young people get internships or some other kind of in-person experience.
“Many young people lack “soft skills” and work readiness”,” he said.”We want to create a new awareness in the business community to ask for their help in getting the young people some business experience so they know what companies” expectations are. It's important for the future.”
The WIB is also assessing potential programs for job seekers who are 50-plus, he added.
The EDC members said they were pleased to learn more about the WIB and supported its mission. For information on the Central Mass. WIB go to http://cmwib.org.