[Federal Register: February 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 30)]
[Notices]
[Page 7392-7393]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13fe03-75]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment & Training Administration
Office of Policy Development Evaluation and Research; Call for
Papers; Biennial National Research Conference on ``Workforce Investment
Issues in the United States''; Washington, DC June 4-5, 2003
Summary: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is the federal government agency
responsible for implementing a national workforce investment and
security system that enables workers and employers to compete and
succeed in an ever-changing economy. This task is accomplished through
the provision of world class labor market information, labor exchange
services, job search assistance, training, and unemployment insurance
benefits. These programs assist in the management of the risks
associated with unemployment, declining income and skill shortages.
They help workers in their search for work and their efforts to upgrade
their human capital. They help employers find new employees who meet
their skill requirements and upgrade the skills of their incumbent
workers.
In 1998, the Workforce Investment Act, the nation's most
comprehensive effort at streamlining and transforming public
employment, job training and education programs and agencies into a
system that meets the skill needs of today's economy, was passed. The
implementation of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 combines a
variety of workforce development programs and initiatives under one
umbrella--the One-Stop System--to effectively serve the needs of job-
seekers, workers and employers in the changing workforce development
environment at the onset of the 21st century economy.
Under the provisions of the WIA, the Secretary of Labor is required
every two years to prepare a five-year research plan for research,
pilot and demonstration initiatives. This research plan reflects a
strategic vision for research efforts based upon input from
stakeholders in employment and training research, a review of recent
efforts, an identification of areas where future research may be
needed, and a review of possible research methodologies.
In light of major changes in the macro-economy that have taken
place in the areas of technological transformation, increasing
globalization and changing demographics over the
[[Page 7393]]
recent years, and the resulting effects of rising workforce insecurity,
the Employment and Training Administration will hold its second
national research conference since the enactment of WIA. The conference
will focus on issues related to trends, challenges and impacts of the
macro-economy to workforce investment, significance of recent changes
in workforce investment, workforce competitiveness in the global
economy, changing business requirements, workforce security in our new
economy, and major policy options to increase productivity by meeting
the skill needs of business and promoting economic opportunities for
the United States workforce. A plenary session is planned to discuss
the soon-to-be published 2002-2007 plan and lay the groundwork for the
2004-2009 research plan.
This is a call for empirical/non-empirical papers related to
workforce investment issues. ETA is seeking recently completed papers
and papers that will be completed prior to the conference. We encourage
contributions by researchers from academia, state or local agencies,
business organizations, labor associations, research consulting firms
and other relevant organizations. Possible topics may include, but are
not limited to:
[sbull] Workforce Investment Act (program implementation and
administration of adult, dislocated worker and youth programs; issues
relating to WIA reauthorization).
[sbull] Skills Requirements of Employers (skills needed by
employers in particular sectors and industries, the effect of new
technologies, including the internet and e-commerce, on skill needs of
employers).
[sbull] Changes in the Structure and Organization of Work (changes
in tenure and the rise of contingent work arrangements).
[sbull] Effect of Contingent Work on Hiring Practices (the effect
of hiring practices of employers and the job search behavior of
individuals).
[sbull] Role of Intermediaries in the Labor Market (whether
intermediaries offer new approaches and techniques that can be adapted
by the public-sector employment and training community).
[sbull] Adaptability of the Unemployment Insurance Program to an
evolving U.S. economy. (program administration, coverage, eligibility,
benefit adequacy, benefit duration, recipiency, benefit financing,
economic stabilization, special populations and changing work
patterns).
[sbull] Changes in Wages and Compensation (effect of education on
workers' earnings).
[sbull] Wages and Compensation Trends (recent trends in the receipt
of benefits, including health insurance and retirement benefits)
Interventions (employment and training intervention responses to wage
and compensation trends).
[sbull] Impact of technology, Internet and Labor Market Information
on labor exchange processes.
[sbull] Education--Workforce Training Continuum (appropriate roles
of public K-12 and higher education integrated with Workforce
Investment System).
Time and Place: The conference will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
on June 4, 2003 and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p. m. on June 5, 2003 at the
Holiday Inn, Capital Hill, 550 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024.
Submission of Papers: All papers submitted will be reviewed by a
panel of DOL experts in the workforce development arena and presenters
will be notified if their papers are selected. Papers reporting on
research and development, evaluation studies, pilot efforts, or applied
practices are encouraged. Selected papers selected for the conference
will be published as part of the ETA Occasional Paper Series. Travel
and accommodation for invited presenters will be paid by the Employment
and Training Administration. If interested, please submit your paper
and abstract if possible in hard copy and diskette/CD (Word) by March
1, 2003. Papers should be doubled-spaced and single sided. You will be
notified by April 4, 2003, if your paper is selected; you will have to
confirm your attendance by April 15, 2001. Please send your papers and
abstract to the logistical contractor for this contract, HMA
Associates, Inc., 1680 Wisconsin Avenue, NW., 2nd Floor, Washington,
DC, 20007, Attn: Peggie Edwards-Jefferies. She may be reached at 202-
342-8258. We also encourage submitting abstracts for papers that have
not yet been completed, but will be completed before the deadline for
submission of papers.
Public Participation: This Conference is open to the public; there
is no registration fee. For registration information, please send name,
address, e-mail address, affiliation, and telephone number to H.M.A
Associates, Inc., 1680 Wisconsin Avenue, NW., 2nd Floor, Washington,
DC, 20007, Attn: Peggie Edwards-Jefferies or email them to
hmaassociates.com.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 5th day of February.
Gerard F. Fiala,
Administrator, Office of Policy Development, Evaluation and Research.
[FR Doc. 03-3559 Filed 2-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P