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Workforce Development Board
Skills Gap Analysis

Workforce Development Board

The purpose of the Berks County Workforce Development Board is to identify the long-term, strategic workforce development needs of the community.

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IMAGINE Berks Year 2
Workforce Development Board

Building Berks County’s Workforce

The purpose of the Berks County Workforce Development Board is to identify the long-term, strategic workforce development needs of the community; propose strategies to meet those needs; set priorities; build partnerships to align resources in support of those strategies; test specific initiatives to advance those ends; and measure and evaluate results.

We support the development and maintenance of a skilled and competitive workforce in alignment with the broader economic development efforts to attract, retain and grow business in Berks County.

PA Careerlink Berks County Resources

Employer Resources

PA CareerLink offers numerous services and benefits to employers. Get connected to resources available at no cost to you.

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Resources for Current Employees

The incumbent worker training program assists employers in upgrading the skills of their workforce in order to remain competitive in their marketplace. Employers often seek resources to assist in training their incumbent workers on such things as new technologies, processes or leadership skills development.

  • Benefits to the employer: The training helps ensure the employer of increased employee effectiveness.
  • Benefits to the employees: The training provides new work-related skills and prepares the workers for job upgrades.

Incumbent worker training must lead to an in-demand occupation (as determined by the local Workforce Development Board), but it does not have to lead to a high-priority occupation (HPO). However, because all HPOs are also in-demand occupations, they are likely eligible for incumbent worker training.

Resources for New Hires

Their On-the-Job Training (OJT) program allows businesses to offset some costs associated with training new hires.

  • Businesses are reimbursed at least 50% of a new, eligible employee’s wages for a pre-determined time period
  • Average reimbursement per employee is $3,000 – $4,000
  • Administration of the OJT takes a minimal amount of company time
  • Training is implemented by you and your incumbent staff, the true job experts
  • We can refer eligible candidates to you, or you can identify them yourself and forward their information to the Business Services Team to determine your eligibility
  • Full time (30 or more hours per week) positions that provide direct new hires with permanent employment (as opposed to seasonal or temporary) are potentially eligible
  • Applications must be approved in advance of the new hire’s first day of employment. Contact the Business Services Team at least 5 business days before the start date

Job Seekers

Are you unemployed and looking for work? Are you currently working and looking for a better job?  Do you want to look into upgrading your skills to get that next job?

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Resources for Jobseekers

Attending Welcome Orientation is a must! Without it, you will miss hearing about the variety of services we offer in the Careerlink office and through our partners in the community. The Welcome Orientation is held in-person. Please check the events calendar for up-to-date days and times. Services are grouped so you can choose the path that best meets your needs. You may choose to have Careerlink share your information with partner agencies that provide services that interest you.

Jobseeker Training opportunities

Any member of the community looking to advance their job seeking and professional skills may register to participate in one of the following information packed workshops; Resume Success, Ace the Interview, Career Exploration & Networking, Excel for Beginners, Word for Beginners, Computer Basics, Job Seeking in Today’s Environment (A Guide for the 40+ Community), Marketing Yourself-Creating a Professional Brand, Success in the First 90 Days of Employment, Tips for Before and After an Interview and Professional Communications. The workshops are approximately 1 ½ hours in length. Participants can view the calendar of events and pre-register at www.pacareerlink.pa.gov. You can also find our information on Facebook at PA CareerLink Berks County.

    Young Adults

    This program helps young adults find stable, meaningful careers through education and career services and supportive case management. The Young Adult Program serves 17 to 24 year-old out-of-school residents of Berks County. 

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    In School-Youth Employment Program

    The In-School Youth Employment Program serves young adults 16-24 years of age who are a current Berks County Resident. Six to eight-week cohorts of work experiences run year-round and are tailored to fit student schedules.

    Participants can earn from $10.00-$15.00 an hour, determined by the program. Local employers offer positions spanning a variety of occupations: healthcare, manufacturing, clerical, outdoor maintenance, education, retail, etc.

    The number of work experiences to be offered annually depends on available program funding.

    Additionally, participants will automatically receive career development skills training which is offered by their case manager.

    For more information, please contact a team member:

    Supervisor – Tristan Prostovich – 610-988-1320 or tprostovich@careerlinkberks.com
    Case Manager – Nichole Miller – 610-988-1335 or nmiller@careerlinkberks.com

    Young Adult Program: Paid Work Experience

    The Paid Work Experience (PWE) Program is available to those enrolled in either the High School Equivalency/GED or Career Services programs. Participants have a part-time, temporary assignment with a local employer in the career field of your choice. Wages are between $10-$15 an hour depending on the difficulty of the job and are paid by the program. You work anywhere from 8-12 weeks with an employer, and can participate in multiple PWE placements. This program allows you to build your resume, try out different career areas, job shadow with some of the area’s leading employers, and earn money while doing it. Participants may be hired on full or part-time by their paid work employer after a successful placement.

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