DATE: Release Date: 06/23/2010
CONTACT: John Fougere, (573) 522-5058

JEFFERSON CITY– Making it easy for students and adults to use labor market information, or even want to do so, can be a challenge, but a partnership between three Missouri state agencies and representatives of business and industry and education were recently recognized for doing just that.

The "Missouri Connections Public Outreach Partnership," a collaboration between the Missouri Departments of Economic Development (DED), Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Higher Education (DHE), plus the Missouri State Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Missouri Center for Career Education, was honored with a "best practice" designation in a national competition sponsored by the state members of the Workforce Investment Council. The partnership received the 2010 National Labor Market Information (LMI) System Product/Service Award for Collaboration/Consultation presented during the national LMI conference last month in Minneapolis.

The Missouri Connections Public Outreach Partnership leveraged the communications and outreach efforts of the three state departments and private industry stakeholders to provide a coordinated message to Missouri job seekers and students about in-demand careers and career planning. In addition to creating a variety of innovative resources, they used the airwaves, newspapers, social media, websites, movie screens, career fairs, and even restaurant bag stuffers to get the word out across the state.

"Informed choices produce the best choices, and each of the participating state agencies entered the partnership committed to assisting students and job seekers in making better-informed career decisions and to spreading the word about Missouri's high-demand jobs of the future," said David Kerr, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. "The national recognition only confirms what a strong approach this has been to effective information and services delivery at a time when many Missourians need it most."

DED's research department, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), and Division of Workforce Development, were the department's representatives on the partnership effort.

Their collaboration began in July 2007 with the aim of helping inform and build awareness among the public, particularly students and potential students, of targeted careers, educational and industry trends, and workforce development priorities. Two of the products the group developed include the Missouri Career Guide and the Missouri's Hot Jobs list, which saw greater-than-anticipated demand as the economy declined in 2007-2008, increasing the urgency for youth and adults needing information to make informed career decisions.

The publications and many other resources developed by the partnership were funded by a Workforce Investment Act grant. Individuals can visit MissouriConnections.org for the education and career exploration resources.