Translate[Archived] Question # 29: What is the cost to reinstate the Workforce Development Center Program?
Question:
What is the cost to fully reinstate the Workforce Development Center experience worker employment and training specialist program that was eliminated in the FY 2015 budget and partially restored as part-time in FY 2019? (Mayor Wilson, Councilwoman Pepper, Councilman Seifeldein)
Response:
The Employment Training Specialist position (0.5 FTE/Grade 16) is budgeted at $41,150 ($30,009 for salary and $11,141 for benefits) in the FY 2022 Proposed Budget. A full-time Employment Training Specialist position would cost $86,750 ($60,018 for salary and $26,732 for benefits). The cost to reinstate the existing position to full-time status would require an additional $45,600.
Based on existing staffing levels, WDC does not have the staff to create robust programming and resources for the 50 plus population. Older adults who are ineligible for State and Federal programs do not have access to case-managed services and are among the groups that face challenges in finding employment. Efforts to address these challenges and enhance older adults' employability are critical to help them maintain their competitive edge in the labor market.
The position provides dedicated employment and training services to older adults in the City of Alexandria. These services include conducting group and individual orientations on the services that older adults can utilize within the Comprehensive One-Stop system and the larger community. Increasing the capacity of this position will allow for more supports to personal and group-based job career readiness and job development services, including identifying and connecting older adults with unpaid and paid work experience opportunities. The position will provide outreach and engagement activities to educate employers on the benefits of hiring experienced workers and working with them to "mine" employment opportunities for older adults. Also, the position will build and maintain a resource library and network in the community that will improve employment, engagement, and economic mobility for mature workers. By changing this position to full-time status, the service capacity to older adults would considerably increase to positively impact 300-350 people each year.