ABOUT WORKFORCE QUALITY AND "OREGON SHINES"

In "Oregon Shines: An Economic Strategy for the Pacific Century," much attention was given to how Oregon could achieve an "economy of the mind." The first of three "key strategic initiatives" in that pioneering, 1989 long range plan is "Invest in Oregonians to build a workforce that is measurably the most competent in America by the year 2000, and equal to any in the world by 2010."

As one response to "Oregon Shines," the 1991 legislature adopted the Oregon Workforce Quality Act. Language from the Act is quoted below.

The 23 member Workforce Quality Council, together with 15 Regional Workforce Quality Committees, has been a powerful agent of change. It has reviewed, coordinated, regionalized and streamlined dozens of programs for improving the performance of students and the productivity of workers. Through the work of the Council, Oregon has been nationally acclaimed for building a systemic approach to workforce improvement, one that integrates the concerns and contributions of a wide diversity of public and private sector interests.

The role of the Council continues to evolve. Most of the early initiatives to coordinate state agency delivery systems are well established, and the Council's attention is now on monitoring, tracking and supporting these efforts. Meanwhile, shifting federal funding streams and other changes from Washington, D.C. reinforce the need for a clearer focus on policy and performance, to help various programs work together. The Council is more than ever an agent of change, making and influencing policy at the state, regional and national levels to inform and accommodate these new directions.

_________________________________________ Section 2, Workforce Quality Act of 1991 (Chapter 667, Oregon Laws 1991, as amended by chapter 927, Oregon Laws 1991):

  • (1) The Legislative Assembly finds that the quality of the workforce is critical to the productivity of the state and to the competitiveness of its businesses and industries.
  • (2) The Legislative Assembly declares that it is the economic development policy of the state to support and promote education and training for students, workers and businesses in order to achieve the following development goals:
(a) To provide comprehensive education and training programs, especially professional and technical programs, for students and workers that equal the highest international standards for achievement;

(b) To promote continuous public and private investment in improved management practices, competitive production processes and worker training;

(c) To develop the capacity of and provide significant opportunity for business and labor to direct the development and delivery of state education and training policy, programs and standards;

(d) To coordinate the delivery of all education , training, employment, apprenticeship and related programs to eliminate needless duplication and assure the efficient and effective provision of these services;

(e) To insure the equitable distribution of quality education, training and employment services statewide, especially to distressed and rural areas, and areas serving the economically disadvantaged citizens of this state; and

(f) To achieve the benchmarks established by the Oregon Progress Board that relate to education and training.

 

Information regarding the Oregon Progress Board and Benchmarks is available from the Workforce Quality Council office, 255 Capitol St. N.E., Suite 126, Salem, Oregon 97310, telephone 378-3921, or from the Oregon Progress Board, 775 Summer Street, N.E., Salem, Oregon 97310, telephone (503) 986-0039.

Return to....