Modified DWD Job Center Realignment Will Require Monitoring

     The new plan doubles the number of centers the Department originally proposed, changing the number of staffed offices from twelve to twenty-two. This includes keeping DWD staff in centers in Superior, Phillips and Rice Lake. Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman’s decision to keep staff in offices in Rice Lake and Phillips is made with the understanding that those offices will continue to provide services to citizens in the northwest region.

     Jauch said, “I give the Secretary credit for listening to the concerns of job service workforce development experts and legislators in coming up with a thoughtful plan that will still save money, but also provide some assurances that services will be available to all citizens of the state. Neither Secretary Gassman nor I want to spend time reducing Job Center services, but it is a necessary responsibility because the Federal government has reduced funding.”

     In response to the Department’s recently announced job service center consolidation plan, Senator Jauch had joined other legislators in a letter to Secretary Gassman calling for review of the original proposal.

     Jauch explained that, “Although the Secretary’s revised plan is not perfect, as a manager she cannot spend money she does not have. The Federal resources have begun to dry up and unless they are replenished with State funds the Department simply cannot provide the same services with fewer resources, but any alternative plan must provide assurances for continuity of services.”

     Jauch warns that as government continues to cut spending, a collapse of many services citizens rely on may be the result. “Our obligation is to assure that the safety net for unemployed workers is maintained and it may be necessary for us to add more resources if the State finds that service needs are not being met. The legislature and the administration need to carefully monitor this plan over the next several months to ensure that it is indeed allowing workforce development staff to provide necessary services to all regions of the state,” Jauch concluded. Senator Jauch called upon Secretary Gassman to issue a report to the legislature on how this new plan is responding to the needs of jobseekers within the next six months.

For more information, contact:
Sarah Barry
Office of State Senator Bob Jauch
118 South, State Capitol
608-266-3510 (office)
608-216-4355 (cell)