A Comparative Analysis of States' Workforce Training Programs. White Paper No. 280

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to provide readers with a comparative analysis of the Massachusetts workforce "system" structures and performance reporting processes compared to other states. Though the federal workforce development system is often examined in its entirety and individual state systems are at times examined independently, little research has been done on the relative similarities and differences among the various state workforce training and development systems. The report covers the following topics: (1) the state of the US and Massachusetts labor markets; (2) the federal financial and regulatory underpinning of state workforce training and development programs; (3) an overview of the workforce development structures of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont; (4) a comparison of the performance-review processes and outcomes; and (5) recommendations for improving the Massachusetts workforce training and development system. It should be noted that the states mentioned above were included in this comparative analysis due to: (1) their proximity to Massachusetts, as is the case for the New England states; (2) the similarity of their industry sectors and workforce characteristics, as with North Carolina, New York and New Jersey; or (3) because of the strong labor market as is the case with Florida and Texas.