The first, the Educational Act for the 21st Century, set tough new academic standards for Oregon s K-12 students and required them to gain the kind of practical experience which employers find valuable. The second, the workforce quality act, called for action to make Oregon s workforce second to none in the nation and in the world. But state government must do more, especially with its existing workforce development system. Built primarily at the federal level over the last 30 years, this system has two problems. First, it is fragmented.
Most programs target specific individuals and groups rather than workers in general.
Moreover, responsibility for these services is divided among different public agencies. As a result, many workers don t receive the services they need. Few public dollars are set aside to serve people who already have jobs even though these workers must also develop new skills. Let me tell you what I am doing as governor to make sure Oregon s workforce development system meets the changing needs of the workplace. First, I have worked with business, educators, and other stakeholders to increase their ownership and involvement in making the kinds of changes necessary to fully implement the education act.