COWS report proposes a greener, more equitable skills agenda

The Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) is pleased to announce the release of Greener Skills: How Credentials Create Value in the Clean Energy Economy.

Greener Skills, a follow up to COWS’ Greener Pathways, proposes a national skills agenda and a better, stronger, greener workforce system to support it.

In addition, the report assesses the state of "green" training, offers a normative argument for doing better and provides specific policy suggestions for federal, state and system stakeholders.

Next month, COWS and the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) will gather experts and policy-makers to discuss the paper — and the future of post-secondary credentialing — at a roundtable in Washington, DC.

The report is available at http://www.cows.org/greenerskills

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Mayors convene to assess and respond to current crisis

Panel discussions focused on assessing the current economic crisis and enacting change through the recession. Areas of focus included developing green infrastructure and building a clean economy.

Xavier de Souza Briggs of the White House Office of Management and Budget was the keynote speaker.

Among the nationally known leaders sharing their expertise were: Bruce Katz, Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution; Chris Hoene, National League of Cities; and Johanna Zetterberg, U.S. Department of Energy. 

You can view meeting materials on the project's website.

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'Wisconsin Job Watch' tracks effects of recession in Wisconsin

A publication of the UW-Madison based Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS), 'Wisconsin Job Watch' provides a monthly snapshot of Wisconsin’s job picture and reports on key recession trends.  

The latest issue, reporting on September 2009 data, shows a notable decline in jobs following months of relative stability. Unemployment is holding steady, but is expected to increase in the coming months. And the construction sector continues to lose jobs as cold weather sets in, though manufacturing is seeing some small gains.

Perhaps the most noteworthy news is that the current downturn has now surpassed the recession of the early 1980s with respect to percent of jobs lost.

Click here to read the full report. Next month’s update will be released towards the end of November. To be notified, sign up for COWS Notes or visit www.cows.org/jobwatch.

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