This report contains recommendations for shrinking the number of Michigan adults who lack basic skills to obtain family-sustaining jobs and contribute to the economy. The report, which CSW and Michigan’s Adult Learning Work Group developed for the Council for Labor and Economic Growth, lays out an unprecedented vision for preparing these workers to thrive by creating an integrated, adult learning system that is flexible enough to meet learners where they are and help them to advance from there.

Very small businesses — those with less than 5 employees — account for 86% of businesses in Michigan and 18% of jobs. With the economy growing ever-tighter, more people are looking to microenterprise to augment or even replace outcomes. This report examines crucial steps to grow the capacity of support organizations to help these small firms succeed. The 2008 report was produced with the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and CSW’s partner, the Aspen Institute’s FIELD program.

This report, developed for the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, looks at ways to evaluate the impact of “Skill Panels” (regional, industry-focused workforce development partnerships) on workers, employers, and public systems. This is one of the latest examples of an evolving movement to capture the impact of sector partnerships, model workforce development approaches that connect workers to good jobs.

This report looks at Math and Science Preparation in America.

Workforce investment boards (WIBs) can, should, and do play leadership roles such as community convener, information broker of value–added workforce intelligence, connector to strategic relationships and alliances, and workforce intermediary. This study provides an opportunity to examine the exemplary practices of workforce industry leaders who provide standards to which all boards may aspire. We believe there is tremendous opportunity to increase the impact of boards, leverage more resources for workforce development, and increase the potential for at-risk communities to regain their competitive advantage.

CSW’s Guide to Improving One-Stops through Benchmarked Critical Success Factors provides state and local policy makers with the tools to improve their One-Stop systems through the application of critical success factors. This ground-breaking study includes a description of a “good” One-Stop, considerations for policy makers desiring to implement the criteria and a self-assessment tool for local One-Stop operators and partners.

This report, written in 2002, provides state and local policy makers and practitioners with information about Critical Success Factors in the implementation and operation of one-stop centers based on a study of 20 centers overseen by 12 Workforce Boards across the country.