TN Department of Labor Ranks 5th in Nation in Training, Placement and Retention of Jobs

USDOL AWARDS $697,963 FOR EXCEEDING PERFORMANCE GOALS IN 2011

NASHVILLE –Tennessee Labor and Workforce Development Acting Commissioner Burns Phillips announces today the USDOL has awarded $697,963 for exceeding all performance goals that were set for the state of Tennessee’s innovative workforce development and education activities.

Tennessee is one of only 15 states in the nation to qualify for the incentive grant, and the amount of Tennessee’s award is the fifth highest in the qualifying states.

“This achievement is significant because it demonstrates how we contribute toward the governor’s vision of making Tennessee the No. 1 state in the Southeast for high quality jobs,” said Phillips. “We will use this award money to continue investing in the skills and employability of Tennessee’s workforce.”

The incentive award will be shared with the divisions of Workforce Services and Adult Education within the Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

During the past 11 years, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development has been recognized seven times for exceeding performance levels in Workforce Investment Act and Adult Education performance outcomes.

To qualify, a state must have exceeded all negotiated performance levels for Workforce Investment Act (WIA Title I), and Adult Education (Title II). The several statewide achievements include: 81.3% of adults who came in without a job were employed within the first three months after completion of the program; 92.2% of dislocated workers were placed in jobs and still had the jobs nine months later; 76.3% of youth participants attained a diploma or credential within six months after completion of the program, and 36,808 WIA participants were served in the state during the one-year period ending in June 30, 2012.

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