Performance Details

Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Employment and Training Services

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Mission

The mission of the Division of Employment and Training Services is to provide labor exchange, employment and training services, and unemployment insurance to Alaskans and Alaska businesses thereby advancing opportunities for employment and providing economic stability for communities in Alaska.

Core Services

• Maximize the degree to which workforce investment resources are invested according to the Alaska Workforce Investment Board priority industries.
• Meet all negotiated performance standards set by the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and the United States Department of Labor.
• Connect employers with qualified job seekers.
• Prepare more Alaskans for jobs requiring the equivalent of a high school diploma.
• Pay unemployment insurance benefits to Alaskans while they are temporarily unemployed.

Mission Results	Core Services
A: Training participants enter employment and are more economically self-sufficient.  Details > TARGET #1: 90 percent of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and State Training and Employment Program (STEP) participants receiving training and employment assistance are satisfied with services. TARGET #2: At least 90 percent of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and State Training and Employment Program (STEP) training completers enter employment.	A1: Maximize the degree to which workforce investment resources are invested according to the Alaska Workforce Investment Board priority industries.  Details > TARGET #1: At least 85 percent of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and State Training and Employment Program (STEP) participants are trained in occupations aligned with the Alaska Workforce Investment Board priority industries. A2: Meet all negotiated performance standards set by the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and the United States Department of Labor.  Details > TARGET #1: Meet all federally negotiated Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) performance standards. TARGET #2: Of those Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act participants who had a goal of obtaining an industry-recognized credential, 85 percent are successful.
Mission Results	Core Services
B: Connect employers with qualified job seekers.  Details > TARGET #1: Increase the Alaska Labor Exchange System registrants that enter employment as compared to the previous year.	B1: Connect employers with qualified job seekers.  Details > TARGET #1: Increase the number of Alaska Labor Exchange System job seekers who receive a Staff Assisted Service as compared to the previous year. TARGET #2: Increase the number of employers using the Alaska Labor Exchange System each year. B2: Prepare more Alaskans for jobs requiring the equivalent of a high school diploma.  Details > TARGET #1: Increase the percentage of Adult Basic Education participants who demonstrate increased basic skills knowledge (reading, writing, mathematics, English language learning).
Mission Results	Core Services
C: A more stable economy for Alaskans and Alaska communities.  Details > TARGET #1: Maintain Alaska's recipiency rate of unemployed workers eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits at or above 50 percent	C1: Pay unemployment insurance benefits to Alaskans while they are temporarily unemployed.  Details > TARGET #1: Exceed the federal timeliness benchmark of 87 percent of initial Unemployment Insurance payments within 21 days.

Performance Detail

Target #1: 90 percent of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and State Training and Employment Program (STEP) participants receiving training and employment assistance are satisfied with services. Methodology: Information is based on email surveys of job training participants of completed programs as maintained in Individual Case Management system. Percent of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and State Training and Employment Program Customers Satisfied with the Services Received from the Division (did not meet the 90 percent target in FY2018) Fiscal Year Not Satisfied Satisfied Extremely Satisfied Total Responders % Satisfied FY 2018 19 61 48 128 85% FY 2017 66 77 517 660 90% FY 2016 33 45 256 334 90% FY 2015 40 63 330 433 91% FY 2014 40 48 535 623 94% Analysis of results and challenges: A lower number of WIOA and STEP customer surveys were conducted in FY2018 due to updates to the survey software being used. There was a period of time during FY2018 where not all surveys were launching successfully requiring staff to research the issue and fix the process. Of the surveys sent, 85 percent of all responses indicated satisfaction with the services received from the division. Survey results from individuals who were not satisfied are reviewed to determine how services can be improved.

Target #2: At least 90 percent of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and State Training and Employment Program (STEP) training completers enter employment. Methodology: This information is gathered from the division's Individual Case Management system. The measure reports data with a two-quarter lag due to the employer reporting timeframe. Percent of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and State Training and Employment Program Training Completers Who Are Employed (did not meet the 90 percent target in FY2018) Fiscal Year Entered Employment Rate FY 2018 84.6% FY 2017 82.0% FY 2016 81.7% FY 2015 82.0% FY 2014 90.0% Analysis of results and challenges: This measure indicates the ratio of participants that enter the workforce within two quarters of being exited from the programs and is based on the quarter ending June 30, 2018, report submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor. This fiscal year-end report reflects calendar year data due to the two quarter lag in wage information.

Target #1: At least 85 percent of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and State Training and Employment Program (STEP) participants are trained in occupations aligned with the Alaska Workforce Investment Board priority industries. Methodology: Comparison of participants training code to the occupational code obtained from the Unemployment Insurance wage record. Percent of Participants Trained in Workforce Investment Board Priority Industries (exceeded the 85 percent target in FY2018) Fiscal Year %Trained in Priority Ind FY 2018 88.8% FY 2017 88.4% FY 2016 87.5% FY 2015 82.0% FY 2014 78.0% Analysis of results and challenges: The continued increase of WIOA and STEP participants completing training in Alaska Workforce Investment Board priority industries is a result of: board member participation in grant review panels; strategic solicitation for grant applications; and a public awareness campaign on high wage, high demand occupations.

Target #1: Meet all federally negotiated Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) performance standards. Methodology: Performance rates are negotiated with the United States Department of Labor and include measurable skills gains, credential rates, and effectiveness in serving employers, and wage based measures such as entered employment, employment retention and average earnings. Each performance indicator is designed to show outcomes of service delivery, and each measure has its own unique methodology. Percent of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Performance Standards Met (did not meet the 100 percent target in FY2018.) Fiscal Year # of Standards # of Standards Met Percent of Standards Met FY 2018 11 10 91% FY 2017 10 0 0 FY 2016 9 8 89% FY 2015 9 9 100% FY 2014 9 9 100% Analysis of results and challenges: Due to the transition from the Workforce Investment Act to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and subsequent changes in performance measures, FY2017 was a baseline determination year and success at meeting performance standards was not reported.

Target #2: Of those Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act participants who had a goal of obtaining an industry-recognized credential, 85 percent are successful. Methodology: Individual Case Management system used to collect participant data. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Participants Who Reach the Goal of Obtaining an Industry Credential (exceeded the 85 percent target in FY2018) Year Attempted Certificate Attained Certificate Success Rate 2018 1,843 1,601 86.9% 2017 1,629 1,350 82.9% 2016 1,418 1,043 73.6% 2015 1,643 1,334 81.2% 2014 1,008 902 89.5% Analysis of results and challenges: Influencers of this measure can include statewide economic conditions. Individuals who enter a service program with the goal of obtaining a recognized credential may opt not to complete that training program if the credential doesn’t appear to be of use in a weak hiring market. The increased success rate is believed to be a result of improving economic conditions and a better identification of certificates of interest to the individuals as well as of value to employers.

Target #1: Increase the Alaska Labor Exchange System registrants that enter employment as compared to the previous year. Methodology: Entered employment is defined as the number of participants who demonstrated employment (wages earned) in the second quarter after the quarter that they exit participation. Exiting participation is defined as not receiving services for 90 days. Source: Alaska Labor Exchange System (ALEXsys) and Labor Production System Percent of Alaska Labor Exchange System Registrants that Entered Employment (due to changes in FY2017 data was not available; FY2018 will be the new benchmark year) Fiscal Year YTD Total Change FY 2018 55.7% Benchmark 0 FY 2017 0 0 FY 2016 61% +2% FY 2015 58% +3% FY 2014 55% +2% Analysis of results and challenges: Due to the transition from the Workforce Investment Act to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the entered employment timeframe was changed from first quarter after exit to second quarter after exit. This information was not available until FY2018. FY2018 is the benchmark year for which future results will be assessed.

Target #1: Increase the number of Alaska Labor Exchange System job seekers who receive a Staff Assisted Service as compared to the previous year. Methodology: Source: Alaska Labor Exchange System (ALEXsys) Number of Alaska Labor Exchange System Job Seekers who Received Staff-Assisted Services (met the target of increasing the number in FY2018) Fiscal Year YTD Total Change FY 2018 58,717 5,814 FY 2017 52,903 -1,087 FY 2016 53,990 -2,223 FY 2015 56,213 -8,403 FY 2014 64,616 -9,473 Analysis of results and challenges: This measure shows the distinct number of job seekers and employers who received at least one staff-assisted service in a quarter. In FY2018, there was an increase in staff-assisted services due in part to the addition of employer services being considered countable services towards federal performance under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Although employer services boosted countable staff- assisted services numbers, there was fewer staff available in the job centers to assist customers during FY2018 in part due to attrition. One job center closed in FY2017 and one closed in FY2018 due to the declining federal and state funding. The office closures occurred during peak summer seasonal activity in May 2017 and May 2018; this timing likely affected the number of job seekers who received a staff-assisted service. In addition, during FY2018, two Alaska Job Center staff were dedicated full-time to the Linking to Employment Activities Pre-release (LEAP) program and seven staff were dedicated full-time to the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program.

Target #2: Increase the number of employers using the Alaska Labor Exchange System each year. Methodology: Alaska Labor Exchange System (ALEXsys) Number of Employers Using the Alaska Labor Exchange System (FY2018 is the benchmark year) Fiscal Year YTD Total Note FY 2018 2,334 Benchmark Year Analysis of results and challenges: The number of employers using the online labor exchange is an indicator of the market share of all active employers in Alaska. Dedicated Alaska Job Center Business Connection staff emphasize proactive outreach to employers to establish long-term business relationships for their employment and training needs. FY2018 is the benchmark year.

Target #1: Increase the percentage of Adult Basic Education participants who demonstrate increased basic skills knowledge (reading, writing, mathematics, English language learning). Methodology: Adult Basic Education database. Percent of Adult Basic Education Participants who Demonstrated Educational Gains (did not meet the target increase in FY2018) Fiscal Year Completed Pre/Post Test Demonstrated Educ. Gains YTD Total FY 2018 714 398 56% FY 2017 957 571 60% FY 2016 1005 581 58% FY 2015 849 419 49% FY 2014 963 460 48% Analysis of results and challenges: Used by United States Department of Education to measure the effectiveness of Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs, the percentage of demonstrated educational gains is an outcome measured by testing students before and after they receive instruction in reading, writing, math, and English as a Second Language. In FY2018, 56 percent of the participants demonstrated an educational gain. When compared to prior years, the FY2018 data shows a decrease. This is the first year of WIOA performance measures being applied to the data, which means the previous fiscal years are not directly comparable to FY2018. Related links:    • ABE Program Information

Target #1: Maintain Alaska's recipiency rate of unemployed workers eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits at or above 50 percent Methodology: United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration's state performance database Percent of Unemployed Workers Eligible for Unemployment Insurance Benefits (did not meet the target of maintaining the recipiency rate at or above 50 percent in 2017) Year Total 2017 43.0% 2016 51.0% 2015 51.0% 2014 53.0% 2013 54.0% Analysis of results and challenges: Used by United States Department of Labor (USDOL) a measure of the effectiveness of a states' Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, recipiency rate is the percentage of unemployed workers eligible for unemployment benefits. Alaska's recipiency rate is well above the national average of 26 percent. Both Alaska's rate and USDOL's rate will fluctuate from year to year simply because the number of unemployed workers fluctuates from year to year as does the percentage of workers that file and qualify for benefits. Alaska’s recipiency rate declined in 2017 as the percentage of unemployed workers filing for benefits has dropped to historic lows.

Target #1: Exceed the federal timeliness benchmark of 87 percent of initial Unemployment Insurance payments within 21 days. Methodology: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administrations state performance database Percent of Initial Unemployment Insurance Payments Processed within 21 Days (exceeded the federal benchmark of 87 percent in 2017) Year YTD Total 2017 93.4% 2016 93.3% 2015 94.7% 2014 94.3% 2013 91.7% Analysis of results and challenges: The federal timeliness benchmark is 87 percent of initial payments made within 21 days. Alaska's performance remains well above the federal benchmark each year. In 2017, the total number of people receiving an unemployment insurance payment for at least one week was 38,086.

Current as of November 29, 2018