Urges Senate to Pass Job-Creating Bill, Announces $11 Million in Grants to Train Workers, Improve Business Competitiveness

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today said Pennsylvania's unemployment rate(1) remained at 8.8 percent in October, while nonfarm jobs(2) increased by 10,600.

For 81 of the past 82 months, Pennsylvania's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate.

The Governor said the latest statewide employment statistics show that now is the time to continue investing in initiatives to speed economic recovery. Today he announced $11 million in grants to strengthen the education and skills of workers to help businesses remain competitive in the global economy.

"To see Pennsylvania's unemployment rate hold steady, even for just two months, while the national rate rose above 10 percent and to see our job count increase is certainly a bright spot for our economy," Governor Rendell said. "This is evidence that Pennsylvania is poised for recovery. However, we should not read too much into one month of statistics. Now more than ever, we need to intensify our efforts to make these numbers a trend rather than a one-month highlight by investing in our workers, businesses and communities.

"While neighboring New Jersey lost 1,800 jobs in October, Pennsylvania is holding its own because of the wise investments we have made through federal stimulus money, and with our own economic development initiatives. That's why it is important that the Senate take action immediately upon their return to approve a housekeeping bill so the commonwealth can issue bonds required to fund hundreds of job-creating infrastructure construction projects," the Governor added.

As part of the effort to improve Pennsylvania's economic situation, Governor Rendell announced 128 grants totaling $11 million for Industry Partnerships and Industry Partnership Worker Training. The state funding will leverage $8.1 million in private-sector matching funds for a total investment of more than $19 million that will support businesses and provide training for up to 9,000 workers in targeted, high-growth, high-demand industries.

"To be successful, Pennsylvania employers need a workforce equipped with the skills and training necessary to compete in a global economy," Governor Rendell said. "Pennsylvania's investments in our industry-led workforce development strategy are helping deliver that training, and providing the workforce with career-focused employment that pays family-sustaining wages."

There are more than 6,000 companies currently working together in 72 active industry partnerships. Over the past five years, more than 75,000 workers have received advanced skills training through the program.

"Pennsylvania's industry-led approach to workforce development has helped us fare well during this national recession," Governor Rendell said. "Industry partnerships and industry partnership worker training have helped businesses achieve success in the past five years and they will help speed our recovery."

The strategic investments announced today provide $8.25 million for workforce training in key industries and $2.75 million to develop industry partnerships in which employers, workers and workers' representatives from vital industries cooperate to improve their collective competitive position in the marketplace.

A list of the grantees is available online at www.paworkforce.state.pa.us. Click on "A-Z Link List" then "Industry Partnerships."

Media contacts:

Troy Thompson, L&I; 717-787-7530

Gary Tuma, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

Editor's Note: The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry today released "Pennsylvania's Employment Situation October 2009." To receive a copy, call (717) 787-7530.

(1) The monthly Unemployment Rate is based on the Current Population Survey (CPS). CPS, also known as "household" survey, data is the primary source of Civilian Labor Force and Employment statistics. It is a monthly household survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reaching about 2,500 households in Pennsylvania. This survey counts how many people are employed, regardless of how many jobs they are actually working.

(2) The monthly Nonfarm Job Count is based on the Current Employment Statistics (CES), also known as "payroll," survey and is the source of nonfarm jobs data by industry. It is a monthly survey of employers conducted by L&I's Center for Workforce Information & Analysis in conjunction with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reaching about 18,000 businesses. This data may include multiple jobs held by a single individual.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.governor.state.pa.us
http://www.paworkforce.state.pa.us