Workforce Terminology

WORKFORCE TERMS

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A  

ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS: Expenditures incurred in carrying out activities under title I that are not related to the direct provision of workforce investment services. Such costs include both personnel and non-personnel costs and both direct and indirect costs. 

Adult WIOA Program: Services to low-income adults based on eligibility. 

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B

BASIC SKILLS DEFICIENT: With respect to an individual— (A) who is a youth, that the individual has English reading, writing, or computing skills at or below the 8th grade level on a generally accepted standardized test; or (B) who is a youth or adult, that the individual is unable to compute or solve problems, or read, write, or speak English, at a level necessary to function on the job, in the individual’s family, or in society. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): A part of the U.S. Department of Labor. BLS functions as the principal data-gathering agency of the federal government in the field of labor economics. BLS collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates data relating to employment, unemployment, the labor force, productivity, prices, family expenditures, wages, industrial relations, and occupational safety and health.

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C

Career and Technical Education (CTE):  Provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners. The term ‘‘career and technical education’’ has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).

Career Pathway: A combination of rigorous and high-quality education, training, and other services that— (A) aligns with the skill needs of industries in the economy of the State or regional economy involved; (B) prepares an individual to be successful in any of a full range of secondary or postsecondary education options, including apprenticeships registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) (referred to individually in this Act as an ‘‘apprenticeship’’, except in section 171); (C) includes counseling to support an individual in achieving the individual’s education and career goals; (D) includes, as appropriate, education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster; (E) organizes education, training, and other services to meet the particular needs of an individual in a manner that accelerates the educational and career advancement of the individual to the extent practicable; (F) enables an individual to attain a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and at least 1 recognized postsecondary credential; and (G) helps an individual enter or advance within a specific occupation or occupational cluster.

Career Planning: The provision of a client-centered approach in the delivery of services, designed— (A) to prepare and coordinate comprehensive employment plans, such as service strategies, for participants to ensure access to necessary workforce investment activities and supportive services, using, where feasible, computer-based technologies; and (B) to provide job, education, and career counseling, as appropriate during program participation and after job placement. 

Chief Local Elected Official (CLEO): The chief elected executive officer of a unit of general local government in a local area. Chief elected official of a local government means either the elected mayor of a city or the chairman of a county board of commissioners.

Community-Based Organization (CBO):  A private nonprofit organization which is representative of a community or significant segments of a community.

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) A responsive and flexible five-year strategic economic development plan. This document lays out the challenges a region needs to overcome to realize its goal of a more resilient economy and recommends strategies for addressing these challenges. Piedmont Triad Regional Council's CEDS can be found at: https://www.ptrc.org/services/economic-development/comprehensive-economic-development-strategy#!/

Councils of Governments (COGs) Voluntary associations that represent member local governments, mainly cities and counties, that seek to provide cooperative planning, coordination, and technical assistance on issues of mutual concern that cross jurisdictional lines. In this sense, COGs serve to develop consensus on many issues that need to be addressed in a subregional or regional context. 

The Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC) is one of 16 regional councils in North Carolina. It is designated by the State of NC to serve as the lead regional organization for the Piedmont Triad region. PTRC serves 75 member governments in a 12 county area of: Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin.  It is authorized by state law to:

  • Make and implement joint regional decisions;
  • Provide management, planning and technical services to local governments;
  • Identify and solve short and long-term problems best addressed at the regional level;
  • Bring together local elected officials on a regular basis, giving them an opportunity to form working relationships:
  • Promote regional issues and cooperation among members.

Covered Employer: An employer covered under statutes relating to the payment of unemployment insurance taxes who meets the following requirements: 1. Employs at least one worker at any time. 2. Acquires all or a substantial portion of a covered employer. 3. Subject to the Federal Unemployment Tax Act. 4. A nonprofit organization and has four or more employees for at least 20 weeks during the calendar year. 5. A state agency, state-operated hospital or school of higher education, or a political subdivision of the state. 6. An employer of agricultural labor and pays $20,000 or more in any one quarter of a calendar year, or employs 10 workers for 20 weeks during the year. 7. Pays cash wages of $1,000 or more in any calendar year for domestic help in your private home. The following are specific exclusions from the coverage: 1. Agriculture employment not defined above. 2. Sole proprietors. 3. Railroad workers. 4. Children under 21 in the employ of a parent. 5. Elected officials. 6. Students or inmate workers. 7. Commissioned real estate, insurance and direct seller salespeople. 8. Church employees. 9. Work relief program participants. All covered employers are included in QCEW data.

Customized Training: Training— (A) that is designed to meet the specific requirements of an employer (including a group of employers); (B) that is conducted with a commitment by the employer to employ an individual upon successful completion of the training; and (C) for which the employer pays— (i) a significant portion of the cost of training, as determined by the local board involved, taking into account the size of the employer and such other factors as the local board determines to be appropriate, which may include the number of employees participating in training, wage and benefit levels of those employees (at present and anticipated upon completion of the training), relation of the training to the competitiveness of a participant, and other employer-provided training and advancement opportunities; and (ii) in the case of customized training (as defined in subparagraphs (A) and (B) involving an employer located in multiple local areas in the State, a significant portion of the cost of the training, as determined by the Governor of the State, taking into account the size of the employer and such other factors as the Governor determines to be appropriate.

Current Employment Statistics (CES): Statistics based on monthly survey of non-farm business establishments. The numbers include wage and salary employment, worker hours, and payroll by industry and area statistics. Through a federal/state cooperative effort, these data are used to compute current monthly employment, hours and earnings estimates, by industry, for the nation, the 50 states & the District of Columbia and all Metropolitan Areas.

Current Population Statistics (CPS): Monthly household survey of the civilian non-institutional population of the United States. The survey provides monthly statistics on employment, unemployment, and related subjects. The data are analyzed and published each month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau.

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D

Data Suppressed: Publication of employment and wage data is withheld for any subsector which consists of fewer than three reporting units or in which a single establishment accounts for 80 percent or more of an industry’s employment. In the event that only one subsector is restricted, the next smallest subsector (by number of establishments) also is restricted to allow disclosure of total industry information.

Division of Employment Security (DES): A part of the NC Department of Commerce, is responsible for the administration of the unemployment insurance program in the state of North Carolina. This program is a federal-state partnership and is funded by federal and state unemployment taxes employers pay on employee wages. Benefits are paid to eligible workers who lose their job through no fault of their own and are able, available and actively seeking work.

Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS): A division of the North Carolina Department of Commerce and NCWorks partner, the Division of Workforce Solutions helps connect job seekers to employers. It offers services for adults, veterans, and youth. It helps employers find the qualified talent they need. It provides training for the state's workforce professionals; operates NCWorks Online, the state’s official job-search portal; and also supports the work of the NCWorks Commission.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion(DEI): An office of the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce that address cultivating an environment where all people feel valued, respected and safe.  

  • Diversity refers to the presence of differing elements such as race, culture, gender, gender identity, age, social class, physical abilities or attributes, religious or ethical value systems, national origin, etc.
  • Equity ensures everyone has access to the same treatment, opportunities and advancements. Equity recognizes that each person's experiences and needs are different and aims to identity and eliminate barriers that prevent the full participation of certain groups.
  • Inclusion is actively supporting and embracing diversity in a way that clearly shows all individuals are valued, recognized and accepted for who they are. Inclusion refers to how people with different identities feel as a part of the larger group.

Disengaged workers: Individuals who may have been employed previously or may never have entered the workforce. These individuals have a barrier to workforce participation.

Dislocated Worker WIOA Program (DW): Services to workers who lose employment due to layoffs meeting specific eligibility requirements. The term ‘‘dislocated worker’’ means an individual who— (A)(i) has been terminated or laid off, or who has received a notice of termination or layoff, from employment; H. R. 803—8 (ii)(I) is eligible for or has exhausted entitlement to unemployment compensation; or (II) has been employed for a duration sufficient to demonstrate, to the appropriate entity at a one-stop center referred to in section 121(e), attachment to the workforce, but is not eligible for unemployment compensation due to insufficient earnings or having performed services for an employer that were not covered under a State unemployment compensation law; and (iii) is unlikely to return to a previous industry or occupation; (B)(i) has been terminated or laid off, or has received a notice of termination or layoff, from employment as a result of any permanent closure of, or any substantial layoff at, a plant, facility, or enterprise; (ii) is employed at a facility at which the employer has made a general announcement that such facility will close within 180 days; or (iii) for purposes of eligibility to receive services other than training services described in section 134(c)(3), career services described in section 134(c)(2)(A)(xii), or supportive services, is employed at a facility at which the employer has made a general announcement that such facility will close; (C) was self-employed (including employment as a farmer, a rancher, or a fisherman) but is unemployed as a result of general economic conditions in the community in which the individual resides or because of natural disasters; (D) is a displaced homemaker; or (E)(i) is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty (as defined in section 101(d)(1) of title 10, United States Code), and who has experienced a loss of employment as a direct result of relocation to accommodate a permanent change in duty station of such member; or (ii) is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty and who meets the criteria described in paragraph (16)(B). (16)

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Employed: In the Current Population Survey (CPS), people are classified as employed, if they meet any of the following criteria: (a) During the survey week, did any work at all as paid employees or in their own businesses or professions on their own farm, or worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in a family enterprise. (b) Were not working, but had jobs or businesses from which they were temporarily absent because of illness, bad weather, vacation, labor management disputes, or personal reasons, whether or not they were paid for the time off. (c) Worked at least 1 hour as a paid employee or worked 1 hour in their own business, profession, trade or farm.

Economic Development Administration (EDA): A bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce. As the only federal government agency focused exclusively on economic development, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) plays a critical role in facilitating regional economic development efforts in communities across the nation.

Economic Development Organization (EDO): Includes a local planning or zoning commission or board, a community development agency, or another local agency or institution responsible for regulating, promoting, or assisting in local economic development. In the Piedmont Triad that is the Piedmont Triad Regional Development Corporation.

Eligible Youth: In-school youth or out-of-school youth, up to the age of 24, who meets the qualifications for enrollment.

ESL: English-as-a-Second Language

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Faith-Based Organization (FBO): A faith-based organization refers to charitable organizations or nonprofits affiliated with a religious group or inspired by religious beliefs.

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General Education Diploma (GED):  A set of tests that when passed certify the test taker has met high-school level academic skills. It is a high school equivalency diploma, so you can use it to apply to college or for a job resume, just like you would with a high school

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Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP): An employment focused competitive grant program of the Department of Labor, Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL-VETS), the only federal grant to focus exclusively on competitive employment for homeless veterans. Initially authorized in 1987 under Section 738 of Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HVRP and its companion programs are currently authorized under Title 38 U.S.C. Sections 2021, 2021A and 2023.

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Incumbent Worker:  Employed workers who lack the skills or knowledge needed to keep pace with the needs of their employers. Incumbent Worker Training: A generic term for training provided to incumbent workers that increases the skills of these workers and reduces the risk of layoff due to insufficient skills or knowledge.

In-demand Industry Sector or Occupation: (i) An industry sector that has a substantial current or potential impact (including through jobs that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) on the State, regional, or local economy, as appropriate, and that contributes to the growth or stability of other supporting businesses, or the growth of other industry sectors; or (ii) an occupation that currently has or is projected to have a number of positions (including positions that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) in an industry sector so as to have a significant impact on the State, regional, or local economy, as appropriate. The determination of whether an industry sector or occupation is in-demand shall be made by the State board or local board, as appropriate, using State and regional business and labor market projections, including the use of labor market information.

Individual Training Account (ITA):  A voucher given to One-Stop Career Center customers who need occupational skills training to become gainfully employed or re-employed.

Individual with a Barrier to Employment: A member of 1 or more of the following populations: (A) Displaced homemakers. (B) Low-income individuals. (C) Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, as such terms are defined in section 166. (D) Individuals with disabilities, including youth who are individuals with disabilities. (E) Older individuals. (F) Ex-offenders. (G) Homeless individuals(6) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043e–2(6), or homeless children and youths (as H. R. 803—10 defined in section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2). (H) Youth who are in or have aged out of the foster care system. (I) Individuals who are English language learners, individuals who have low levels of literacy, and individuals facing substantial cultural barriers. (J) Eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers, as defined in section 167(i). (K) Individuals within 2 years of exhausting lifetime eligibility under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). (L) Single parents (including single pregnant women). (M) Long-term unemployed individuals. (N) Such other groups as the Governor involved determines to have barriers to employment.

Individual with a Disability:  An individual with a disability as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).

Industry: A group of establishments that produce similar products or provide similar services. For example, all establishments that manufacture automobiles are in the same industry. A given industry, or even a particular establishment in that industry, might have employees in dozens of occupations. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) groups similar establishments into industries.

Industry or Sector Partnership:  A workforce collaborative, convened by or acting in partnership with a State board or local board, that— (A) organizes key stakeholders in an industry cluster into a working group that focuses on the shared goals and human resources needs of the industry cluster and that includes, at the appropriate stage of development of the partnership— (i) representatives of multiple businesses or other employers in the industry cluster, including small and medium-sized employers when practicable; (ii) 1 or more representatives of a recognized State labor organization or central labor council, or another labor representative, as appropriate; and (iii) 1 or more representatives of an institution of higher education with, or another provider of, education or training programs that support the industry cluster; and (B) may include representatives of— (i) State or local government; (ii) State or local economic development agencies; (iii) State boards or local boards, as appropriate; (iv) a State workforce agency or other entity providing employment services; (v) other State or local agencies; (vi) business or trade associations; (vii) economic development organizations; (viii) nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, or intermediaries; (ix) philanthropic organizations; (x) industry associations; and H. R. 803—11 (xi) other organizations, as determined to be necessary by the members comprising the industry or sector partnership. 

Initial Claim: A request for a determination of entitlement to and eligibility for compensation following unemployment. An additional initial claim is a subsequent initial claim filed to reopen a claim series during an existing benefit year. This occurs if a person again becomes unemployed when a break of one week or more has occurred in the claim series due to intervening employment.

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Labor & Economic Analysis Division (LEAD): Collects data, conducts research and analysis and publishes reports about the state’s economy and labor market.

Labor Force: The labor force includes all people age 16 and older who are classified as either employed and unemployed.

Labor Force Participation Rate: Percentage of the civilian non-institutional population 16 years and older that is working or actively looking for work. It is an important labor market measure because it represents the relative amount of labor resources available for the production of goods and services.

Labor Market Area:  An economically integrated geographic area within which individuals can reside and find employment within a reasonable distance or can readily change employment without changing their place of residence. Such an area shall be identified in accordance with criteria used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor in defining such areas or similar criteria established by a Governor. 

Labor Market Information (LMI): A body of knowledge that describes the nature, characteristics and operation of those mechanisms, institutions and participants involved in the matching of labor supply with demand. LMI is comprised of a variety of economic, social and demographic information. The information describes past and current conditions, as well as forecasts future conditions. LMI is comprised of population data, labor force data, occupational data, general economic trends, and career data. LMI has many planning uses. The information can be used to determine policy and program needs, to allocate resources, and to establish program performance standards. To request LMI, submit a data request form at: http://www.ptrc.org/services/workforce-development/workforce-data-resources/labormarketrequest

Labor Underutilization: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics measure unemployment in a number of different ways. The alternative measures of labor underutilization include:

  • U-1: Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of the civilian labor force
  • U-2: Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as a percent of the civilian labor force
  • U-3 Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor force (official unemployment rate)
  • U-4 Total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers
  • U-5 Total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all other persons marginally attached to the labor force, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force
  • U-6 Total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force

Low-Income Individual:  An individual who— (i) receives, or in the past 6 months has received, or is a member of a family that is receiving or in the past 6 months has received, assistance through the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), or the supplemental security income program established under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or State or local income-based public assistance; (ii) is in a family with total family income that does not exceed the higher of— (I) the poverty line; or (II) 70 percent of the lower living standard income level; (iii) is a homeless individual (as defined in section 41403(6) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 H. R. 803—12 (42 U.S.C. 14043e–2(6))), or a homeless child or youth (as defined under section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2))); (iv) receives or is eligible to receive a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); (v) is a foster child on behalf of whom State or local government payments are made; or (vi) is an individual with a disability whose own income meets the income requirement of clause (ii), but who is a member of a family whose income does not meet this requirement.

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Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA): Geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use by federal statistical agencies in collecting, tabulating, and publishing federal statistics. The general concept of a metropolitan statistical area is that of a core area containing a substantial population nucleus of at least 50,000 people, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with that core. There are 17 MSAs in North Carolina. https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/metroarea/stcbsa_pg/Feb2013/ cbsa2013_NC.pdf

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N

National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG):  Discretionary grants awarded by the Secretary of Labor, under Section 170 of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). NDWGs provide resources to states and other eligible applicants to respond to large, unexpected layoff events causing significant job losses. This funding is intended to temporarily expand capacity to serve dislocated workers, including military service members, and meet the increased demand for WIOA employment and training services, with a purpose to reemploy laid off workers and enhance their employability and earnings.

NCWorks Commission Statewide agency that recommends policies and strategies that enable the state’s workforce and businesses to compete in the global economy. The Commission is designated as the state’s Workforce Development Board under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Led by a private sector chair, the 33-member Commission includes representatives from the business community, heads of state workforce agencies, educators, and community leaders. All members are appointed by the Governor.

Nontraditional Employment: Occupations or fields of work, for which individuals from the gender involved comprise less than 25 percent of the individuals employed in each such occupation or field of work.

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS): A classification system developed jointly by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to provide improved comparability in industrial statistics across North America. NAICS replaced the U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system.

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 Occupation: The kind of work a person does to make a living. Occupations are specific jobs usually found in several industries. For example, cafeteria worker is a service occupation found in many different industry sectors, including services (schools, hospitals, businesses), the trade sector (eating establishments, department stores), or in manufacturing industries.

Occupational Employment Statistics (OES): Data on employment and wages for more than 800 occupations and for about 400 non-farm industries in the nation, plus occupational data for states and metropolitan areas.

On-the-Job Training (OJT): A mechanism for contracting with an employer to hire an employee into a training position where a portion of the wage rate is reimbursed during the training period. Training by an employer that is provided to a paid participant while engaged in productive work in a job that— (A) provides knowledge or skills essential to the full and adequate performance of the job; (B) is made available through a program that provides reimbursement to the employer of up to 50 percent of the wage rate of the participant; and (C) is limited in duration as appropriate to the occupation for which the participant is being trained, taking into account the content of the training, the prior work experience of the participant, and the service strategy of the participant, as appropriate.

Opportunity Zones:  A program with the potential to attract investment capital into low-income areas of North Carolina was created by federal tax legislation, known as The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R.1). North Carolina Opportunity Zones will offer qualified investors certain tax benefits when they invest unrealized capital gains into these areas. Map of NC Opportunity Zones: https://public.nccommerce.com/oz/#section-zones

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Prosperity Zones: The State of North Carolina operates eight administrative regions known as Prosperity Zones. Each Zone features a one-stop, physical location, providing citizens and businesses the ability to interact with representatives from multiple state agencies, as well as to encourage better collaboration between the agencies themselves. The state deploys subject matter experts in each Zone, from transportation and environmental topics to workforce development, community planning and liaisons to existing businesses in the Zones. Map of North Carolina Prosperity Zones: https://www.nccommerce.com/about-us/nc-prosperity-zones

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Rapid Response:  A range of flexible services designed to address the needs of an employer and affected workers following the announcement of a planned lay off or plant closure.

Recognized Postsecondary Credential:  A credential consisting of an industry-recognized certificate or certification, a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship, a license recognized by the State involved or Federal Government, or an associate or baccalaureate degree.

Request for Proposals (RFP): A document that announces a project, describes it, and solicits bids from qualified contractors to complete it.

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Service Provider: Direct workforce services are provided to individuals through the NCWorks Career Centers. The Workforce Development Board provides oversight of the centers and contracts with a third party to provide services, that organization is referred to as the service provider.

Skills Gap: The difference between the skills required by employers to fill positions and the skills offered by available job seekers.

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC): A system for classifying all occupations in the economy, including private, public and military, based on work performed and required skills, education, training and credentials.

Supportive Services: Services such as transportation, child care, dependent care, housing, and needs-related payments, that are necessary to enable an individual to participate in authorized training or workforce activities.

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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): This provides grant funds to states and territories to provide families with financial assistance and related support services. State-administered programs may include childcare assistance, job preparation, and work assistance.

Trade Adjustment Act (TAA): Assists individuals who have become unemployed as a result of increased imports from, or shifts in production to foreign countries return to suitable employment as quickly as possible.

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Unemployed: Persons 16 years of age or older are classified as unemployed if they do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior four weeks, and are currently available for work. Persons who were not working and were waiting to be recalled to a job from which they had been temporarily laid off are also considered unemployed. The unemployment rate represents the number unemployed as a percent of the labor force.

Unemployment Compensation/Unemployment Insurance (UC/UI): Benefits provided to eligible workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own, and meet certain other eligibility requirements. This program is administered by the North Carolina Division of Employment Security.

Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate represents the number of unemployed persons as a percent of the labor force.

United States Department of Education (DOE): mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

United States Department of Labor (DOL): Mission is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) :As a part of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) administers federal government job training and worker dislocation programs, federal grants to states for public employment service programs, and unemployment insurance benefits. These services are primarily provided through state and local workforce development systems.

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): The Department of Housing and Urban Development administers programs that provide housing and community development assistance. The Department also works to ensure fair and equal housing opportunity for all.

United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC):  Responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits.

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Wages: Payment for labor or services performed. Wages may not be reflective of full-time work schedules.  

Wagner-Peyser Act: The Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933 established a nationwide system of public employment offices, known as the Employment Service. The Employment Service seeks to improve the functioning of the nation's labor markets by bringing together individuals seeking employment with employers seeking workers. It provides the primary fund source for labor exchange, a core service to job seekers and employers in the Workforce system.

WARN notice.  Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, commonly called a WARN notice is a notification that companies that have announced plans to either close a facility or conduct a mass personnel layoff are required to file with the state. WARN notices trigger our provide transition support for the people impacted by this action in what is referred to as a Rapid Response.

Workforce Development Board (WDB):  A local Workforce Development Board is a group of community leaders appointed by local elected officials and charged with planning and oversight responsibilities for workforce programs and services in their area. In North Carolina, 23 local boards are responsible for the following:

  • Developing local plans for the use of Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act funds
  • Oversight of the local service delivery system
  • Coordinating activities with economic development entities and employers in their local areas

The majority of each board is represented by members of the local business community. In all, board membership includes individuals representing business and industry, economic development agencies, community-based organizations, education, organized labor, public assistance agencies and more.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA): Landmark federal legislation that was designed to strengthen and improve our nation's public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers. WIOA empowers North Carolina to train its workforce and guides how the NCWorks initiative connects job seekers to employers.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) A Federal tax credit available to employers who hire individuals from eligible target groups with significant barriers to employment. The N.C. Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS), part of the N.C. Department of Commerce, administers the WOTC program and determines eligibility for the target groups. The amount of tax credit employers can claim depends on the target group of the individual hired, the wages paid to that individual in the first year of employment, and the number of hours that individual worked.

The Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Program is an equal opportunity employer/program and auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Local area NCWorks Career Centers and NCWorks NextGen Youth Programs operate under the guidance of Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Board and are part of the state and national Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act system.