Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962

Act of March 15, 1962; Public Law No. 514, 87th Congress, Second Session, as amended by Act of August 28, 1963, Public Law No. 108, 88th Congress, First Session; Act of April 26, 1965, Public Law No. 15, 89th Congress, First Session; Act of November 7, 1966, Public Law No. 792, 89th Congress, Second Session; (42 U.S. Code, Sections 257 et seq.)

Prior to 1962, while there were many training programs for specific trades, there was no general, over-all training legislation. In 1962, in an effort to up-grade skills and retrain workers who had lost their jobs because of technological changes, Congress enacted the Manpower Development and Training Act establishing a three year program to train unemployed workers. In 1965, this program was extended for an additional three years through June 30, 1969.

The 1962 act authorized vocational education and on-the-job training programs. The emphasis in 1962 was on experienced workers with family responsibilities.

In 1963, the scope of the act was broadened to help the illiterate jobless and unemployed school dropouts. The Secretary of Labor was authorized to refer those too illiterate to take advantage of the job training programs to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for such basic education as would enable them to pursue occupational training.

In 1965, the act was amended to extend it through June, 1969 and to increase the period during which persons could receive training, to increase training allowances and to expand experimental and demonstration programs, and to train workers to fill jobs where there is a shortage of labor.

In 1966, the act was amended to allow more administrative flexibility and to make the program adaptable to current manpower needs. It also authorized the Secretary of Labor to refer for training persons 45 and older, make agreements with the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for health treatment where needed for employment and liberalize eligibility requirements.

Special Job Training and Employment for Low Income Groups

Act of August 20, 1964; Public Law No. 452, 88th Congress, First Session; as amended by Act of November 8, 1966, Public Law No. 794, 89th Congress, Second Session

The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, an omnibus anti-poverty program, authorized ten separate programs under the supervision of the Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. A Job Corps was established for youths between 16 and 21 to give them educational and vocational training, including a work-training program subsidized by federal funds to provide local work experience, and workstudy programs to provide part-time work for students from low income families. Urban and Community Action programs were authorized to develop employment opportunities and educational facilities to enable adults to equip themselves to earn higher wages. Assistance for rural and migrant workers was authorized. Also authorized were business incentive programs to strengthen small businesses and enable them to hire the long-term unemployed. The

transfer of appropriated funds to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare was authorized to finance projects to employ and train heads of families receiving help under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program.

In 1966, programs for job testing, training, and developing were transferred to the Labor Department.

United States Employment Service

Act of June 6, 1933, as amended, U.S. Code 1952, Supp. III, Title 29, Sections 49b, 49g, 49m, 49n; Act of June 22, 1944, as amended, U.S. Code 1952, Title 38, Sections 695-695f

The United States Employment Service develops policies and maintains methods for the coordination and guidance of a nationwide system of public employment offices operated by State and Territorial agencies affiliated with the United States Employment Service. There are now approximately 1,800 full-time and 2,000 part-time local offices. The United States Employment Service has the responsibility for checking the individual State plans of operation for conformity with Federal laws; promoting uniform methods for operating employment service offices; maintaining a program for referring labor from one area to another; giving technical assistance to the States in legislation and administration; assisting in determining funds necessary for administration of State employment service programs; and maintaining employment service facilities in the District of Columbia.

Having operated under the widest extremes of labor market conditions, the Employment Service has developed a well-rounded, comprehensive employment service program which evolves around six important functions, namely:

1. AN EFFECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE.

An effective placement service and nationwide clearance system makes it possible for workers to obtain information concerning job opportunities in the community and throughout the entire country. It assists employers in finding workers, and assists workers in finding employment or reemployment in jobs for which they are suited by skills, knowledge, abilities, and interests. This service facilitates the placement of workers in jobs for which their training, experience, and aptitudes fit them. It saves the employer time and effort in recruiting qualified workers, and assists him in preventing unnecessary turnover. În recent years greater attention has been given to the placement problems of the professional workers by encouraging the local offices to stress such placements and by providing specialized convention placement services by the Bureau and cooperating State agencies at conventions of professional groups.

The United States Employment Service also participates with the State Employment Security agencies in the operation of a farm placement service. This program provides special services in addition to basic placement facilities available at all local employment offices. These services include the organization and operation of day-haul programs for seasonal agricultural workers, and provide direction for migratory farm workers to a succession of seasonal jobs. The use of

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Federal, State, and community resources is encouraged to improve the working conditions, housing, health, education, and welfare facilities available to migrant workers and their families. The Employment Service also operates a program which supplements domestic farm labor with foreign workers brought in for temporary jobs when needed.

2. EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING AND SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE

The technical assistance furnished through the local offices in counseling and testing as well as selective placement services provides the applicant with an opportunity to discover, analyze, and evaluate his potential abilities; to formulate a suitable vocational plan; and to put the plan into effect. Programs for the counseling and placement of special applicant groups, such as youth, older workers, the physically handicapped, and members of minority groups are developed and coordinated by the Employment Service. Major program activities of these special applicant groups will be described later in this

section.

3. SPECIAL SERVICES TO VETERANS

The public employment service has always had a special obligation to veterans. This originated under the Wagner-Peyser Act of June 6, 1933, which specified that the Bureau was "to maintain a veteran's service to be devoted to securing employment for veterans." The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, as amended, strengthened the Veterans Employment Service.

4. INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

The failure of workers to retain jobs because of poor selection and assignments caused by inadequate knowledge of job requirements and worker qualifications results in a high turnover and increased unemployment. By assisting employers, labor groups, and organizations in analyzing employment problems involving effective use of skills and abilities of workers, and by aiding them in the application of techniques and materials, the Employment Service can be of service to both the worker and the employer.

5. LABOR MARKET INFORMATION SERVICE

The Bureau of Employment Security, the State employment security agencies, and the local public employment offices provide information on employment and unemployment trends and labor demandand-supply relationships with respect to specific areas, industries, and occupations. Local area labor market newsletters are prepared and distributed to employers, unions, and public officers in nearly 600 communities. The majority of these include information on unemployment trends. A monthly summary of trends and developments in new and insured unemployment, together with an analysis of the factors responsible for changes during the month, the amount of benefits paid and the number of beneficiaries, data on claimants exhausting benefit rights, and significant developments on a geographic

regional basis, is published each month in the Bureau periodical, "Labor Market and Employment Security." The "Bimonthly Summary of Labor Market Developments in Major Areas," prepared by the Bureau, gives classification of major areas according to adequacy of labor supply.

6. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

The public employment office is an important cog in the economic life of the community. It is actively engaged in analyzing and developing programs and services which may be applied in alleviating problems of extreme unemployment and underemployment, particularly as these problems relate to the Nation's low-income group. Special assistance is provided by the Bureau to areas faced with a chronic labor surplus due to exhaustion of resources, declining industries, technological changes, and rapidly growing populations.

The Employment Service, through its operations, is familiar with the problems in the community and can offer important information to the community on local matters affecting employment.

In carrying on the foregoing six-point program, the United States Employment Service develops placement and counseling tools including occupational informational materials and tests, and provides services to special applicant groups.

Placement and counseling tools.-The United States Employment. Service provides technical tools and information on the content and requirements of jobs. Best known and most widely used is the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Other publications include Job Descriptions, Occupational Guides covering many occupations, and guides for interviewing handicapped applicants. Inquiries concerning these tools and publications should be addressed to the Bureau of Employment Security, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington 25, D.C.

The United States Employment Service test development program produces objective tests and related techniques for the measurement of skills, aptitudes, and interests of applicants.

Services to special applicant groups. Certain groups such as veterans, the handicapped, older workers, youth, and members of minority groups tend to need special help in locating satisfactory employment. Local employment offices, through the use of specialized techniques and the intensified application of regular services, assist these applicants in resolving their job problems.

Veterans.-Veterans are given full advantage of all services available through local employment offices and they receive priority in referral to all jobs. Preferential service among veterans is extended to those who are disabled. State and local office Veterans Employment Representatives in each State are available to assist veterans in resolving their job problems. Additional special services given veterans include: (1) employment information, registration and employment counseling services to patients and dischargees at Armed Forces and veterans hospitals, (2) job information and other employment services through Armed Forces separation centers, (3) information and referral service to appropriate agencies through which benefits and services may be obtained, (4) cooperation with employers and government agencies in establishing and maintaining rehabilitation

and job training programs for veterans, and (5) job-finding assistance to veterans by maintaining constant contact with employers, veterans organizations, employer organizations, labor organizations, government agencies, civic organizations, and community service groups.

Older workers.-Every fourth person in the population and every third person in the labor force in the United States is 45 years of age, or over. This group therefore constitutes about one-third of the applicants for work at the public employment office. Yet a majority of the job openings listed by employers with the employment service contain age restrictions specifying a preference for younger workers. As a result, the Employment Service must provide intensive counseling and placement services to many older workers in order to place them in suitable jobs. The Employment Service also draws upon its own resources and those of the entire Department of Labor to develop facts and information concerning the performance and potentialities of older workers in order to educate employers, labor, and the general public, and thereby to promote employment opportunities. Studies are now being conducted of employment patterns, policies, and practices by age, sex, occupation, and industry. Surveys are being made on the productivity, absenteeism, accident, and turnover rates among older workers as compared to younger workers. Provisions in collective bargaining agreements and pension plans that contribute to the hiring and retention of older workers are being analyzed. Demonstration projects are being conducted on counseling and placement methods and costs. By publicizing the results of these studies and extending and improving placement services to older jobseekers, the Department of Labor and the Bureau of Employment Security hope to increase job opportunities for older workers and reduce age-restrictive hiring practices.

Youth. When a young person first enters the labor market, it is desirable that his aptitudes, interests, and skills all be evaluated; therefore, the local employment offices provide special services to these new entrants to the labor market. These services include, as needed, counseling and testing to determine vocational aptitudes. The Bureau places special emphasis on the program of cooperation between local employment service offices and secondary schools for the employment, counseling, and placement of high school graduates and dropouts.

The physically handicapped.-The Bureau and the State employment services provide all regular services to the physically handicapped, which include placement and counseling and testing, when needed. In addition to this service, the Bureau has developed special guides to be used in interviewing applicants who have pulmonary tuberculosis, heart disease, epilepsy, diabetes, arthritis, nonarticular rheumatism, and orthopedic disorders. The Bureau and State services work with the Veterans' Administration, the State rehabilitation agencies, the Bureau of Employees Compensation, and other Federal and State agencies in an effort to expand and improve the services for the handicapped.