Workforce Development System

Adopted at the in 1996



  • WHEREAS, The U.S. Conference of Mayors has had strong policy supporting systemic change in our country's workforce development system for the last six years and currently, pending legislation in Congress addresses that systemic change; and

    WHEREAS, the creation of a world class workforce development system is critically important to cities; and

    WHEREAS, a strong world class workforce development system requires sufficient funding levels for education and training investments that allows all Americans, especially those who live in cities, to prosper in the global economy; and

    WHEREAS, an improved workforce development system must include a meaningful role for the chief elected official that takes the lead in a public-private partnership with business; and

    WHEREAS, an effective workforce development system must include balance and participation by all critical partners (federal, state and local officials, business, organized labor, education, and other community leaders), because no one partner can improve the current system on their own; and

    WHEREAS, a productive and accountable system must allow the chief local elected official to not only have the capacity to appoint the local workforce board members but also the authority to review and approve local plans and budgets, and review and evaluate locally operated job training and employment programs; and

    WHEREAS, a comprehensive workforce development system must adequately address the needs of economically disadvantaged adults, dislocated workers, and at-risk youth to ensure long-term employment, increased skill levels, and economic self-sufficiency; and

    WHEREAS, any new workforce development system must adequately target resources for at- risk youth and dislocated workers by establishing within-state allocation formulas and mandating the summer jobs program; and

    WHEREAS, a productive, accountable new system must have universal, performance-based measures that monitor the acquisition of skills and attainment of jobs and self-sufficiency and must allow the federal government to be a full partner in determining these measurable goals and objectives,

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors believes that a world class workforce development system that provides a highly skilled and productive workforce must provide at a minimum:
  • a meaningful role for the local elected official that provides the authority to review and approve local plans and budgets, and review and evaluate locally operated job training and employment programs in partnership with the local workforce development board; and
  • adequate funding levels for programs that would provide for training and education investments and not undermine the capacity of the new system; and
  • targeting for dislocated workers and at-risk youth through a within-state formula and a mandated summer jobs program; and
  • accountability measures established by the federal government that monitor the acquisition of skills and the attainment of jobs and self-sufficiency.
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