International Workforce Day Kicks Off Annual Forum

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to business, national and international borders are increasingly blurred as market boundaries shift and technological advances increase the mobility and connectedness of the global workforce. Companies are looking at innovative ways to capture the workforce talent they need to be successful and manage the ongoing factors that are quickly shifting the market. Finding workforce talent solutions to these issues is a critical factor in getting Americans back to work and helping businesses compete globally.

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This is the focus of the National Association of Workforce Boards' (NAWB) International Workforce Day in Washington, D.C. on March 9, 2012. The NAWB hosts an annual workforce forum each year to convene stakeholders, businesses and political leaders in discussions, to find solutions to workforce challenges. As part of this annual forum, NAWB has expanded the program to include a day exclusively dedicated to international conversation.

President/CEO of NAWB Ron Painter said, "Workforce professionals across the globe are on the front line addressing the challenges of high unemployment, stagnant growth, staggering youth unemployment, and dramatically changing economies. These common issues require nations to share innovative approaches on what works, and invent new strategies for the new economy."

The NAWB International Workforce Day kicks off with a keynote on Employment & Skills in the Global Marketplace, followed by an Embassy Panel that examines international responses to the global recession. Global companies like GAP, Inc., Monster and UPS discuss workforce needs for international business. Interactive break-out topics include Creating Jobs in High Unemployment Areas, Strong Employer Partnerships, City-Wide Strategies for Employment & Skills, Social Enterprise & Social Investment Models, and Service Quality in an Age of Austerity.

An international panel tackles International Practices in Excellent Service Delivery. Speakers include:

• Sergio Arzeni, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs & Local Development, OECD (Paris)
• Fran Parry, Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion (UK)
• Trudy Parsons, Miller Dickinson Blais, (Canada)
• Miquel Peromingo, World Association of Employment Services (South America)
• Tracy Fishwick, Manchester Commission for the New Economy (UK)
• Sietske van Rossum, BlikopWerk and the Workability Index (Netherlands)
• Jim Rafferty, Edinburgh Capital City Partnership (Scotland)
• Mark Burton-Page, European Forum for Urban Security (France)
• Sally Sinclair, National Employment Services Association (Australia)
• Gianluca Antonucci, Progetti Sociali & the University of Chieti (Italy)
• Clare Elliott, UK Department for Work and Pensions (UK)
• Ton deKoK, Brabants Expertise in Social Entrepreneurship (Netherlands)

Painter said, "International Workforce Day is designed to spark new learning, new ideas and fresh approaches by tapping the global strength of those dedicated to workforce excellence; it's a perfect kick off to our annual forum."

All workforce, economic development and education organizations and stakeholders, policymakers, businesses, chambers, and industry associations are invited to join NAWB in the nation's capitol for a fascinating day of interaction and conversation with workforce professionals from around the world.

For more information and the full schedule, or to register for International Workforce Day and/or the NAWB Annual Forum, go to www.NAWB.org/Forum.

SOURCE National Association of Workforce Boards