What’s HIWI?

HIWI is the HAWAII WORKFORCE INFONET and it is the place to get the most up-to-date employment, wage, job, and training information available related to Hawaii so you can make the smartest decisions. It’s information you can use, right now, today to help you decide what to do next. Thinking about a career change? See where the jobs are going to be in the future in the Outlook for Industries and Occupations up to 2018.

Wondering what a competitive salary is for the new employee you are thinking about hiring? Check out the average wage rates in Hawaii.

This data comes from the Research and Statistics Office of Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR). The Occupational Employment Surveys are federally funded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and carried out by the state workforce agencies, in Hawaii, DLIR Research and Statistics. HIWI publishes the data in a handy retrievable form.

At http://www.hiwi.org/ it’s all about providing tools for employers and job seekers to make informed decisions. Not the kind of tools you need a tool belt for, but the kind of tools your mind needs to decide what next steps to make for a better future, for your better future.

Hawaii Legislature Opens and New Website Unveiled

     The opening of the Hawaii Legislature is always an emotional event.  Despite celebratory events being more low key this year, the anticipation of the dance still tweaks our amygdalas. There are high hopes that our elected officials will find a path that best meets the needs of most of the people in Hawaii.  If it happens, it can be a mutually beneficial event as it woud support re-election for the legislators, which is on the minds of most this election year. 
        Participation in the legislative process has always been difficult for the working person or business as most of the hearings and proceedings happen during the day and tracking the issues has never been easy - - until this year.  If you haven't been to the newly redesigned website, you must see it.  Find it at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/
    There are many innovations that streamline and make it more user friendly.  All you need to do is "register" with your name and e-mail address to set up an account that tracks the bills you are interested in.  Finding the bills is still a bit of a "keyword" challenge, but once identified a new feature allows you to add those bills to a list and generate a  "Report"  that provides the information and status on each measure you are tracking.  You can set up various "Lists" to keep your reports focused on issues or groups.  Notices about committee hearings are still available by e-mail.  Although there is still not a lot of notice before the hearing is announced, there have been innovations in submitting testimony.
     The new website  appears to have an easy way to submit testimony.  Click the "Submit Testimony" button.  The "Submit Testimony" button seems to be everywhere. On the main page and on each measure page.   This innovation should produce more public comment and get a more accurate public perception of the issues. 
      All these new features should make our jobs easier tracking information.  Let's hope these time savers give us more time to listen to each other and build bridges that connect our values and pattern better solutions.  BRAVO Webmaster!
    
  

Job Fair Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Whether you are looking for a job or some employees, mark your calendars for January 18, 2012 for the Job Fair.  Be sure to look for the "Green Zone" where the Hawaii Green Jobs Initiative will be operating.  For more information on how to get involved go to this website: http://www.successhi.com/SuccessHI-2011/Job_Fairs.html

Employers Seeking To Be Green

No, we're not talking about a hook-up with Sesame Street's Kermit the Frog, we're talking about being involved in the DLIR Green Jobs Initiative.  What does "Being Green" mean outside of Kermit's world? The answers are coming to Kauai on  January 25, 2012.  To register for the Green Workforce Development Summit or more information see: http://www.kauaichamber.org/_library/documents/012512_kauaigreenworkforcedevsummittregform.pdf

The issues about defining "green" are included on the Hawaii Green Jobs Initiative Website at Green Job definitions.  This week the DLIR launched an online searchable Green Employers List and the green jobs they offer. 

  The Green Employers Directory   provides information about what these green workerrs do and includes the skills and training needed for these green jobs.  This online searchable database is a product of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  The initial Green Employers Directory was one of the  by-products of a survey conducted in 2010 which can be viewed by clicking here. 

Once an employer is registered they can update the jobs and information in the Directory.  It's a great free resource for both employers and employees who are looking to find forward-thinking members of our community.  There are currently 276 employers listed State-wide, although some firms are listed more than once to represent different locations.  To access the directory, go to https://lmi.ehawaii.gov/green.   Businesses wishing to be added to the directory may contact the DLIR Research and Statistics office at (808)586-9013 or dlir.rs.greenjobshawaii@hawaii.gov.

The DLIR also has green connections that provide money to support On-The-Job training (click on "Employers" to get to On-the-Job training page) of employees through the State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) led by the Workforce Developmen Council. ("WDC").  All the documents and requirements of the programs offering 50% to 90% reimbursement of training fees are on line to review.  This is the place where the WDC keeps all the new programs and opportunities posted.  You can keep up to date with them on Facebook.  "Like" http://www.facebook.com/sesphawaii#!/sesphawaii

The WDC, or the idea and policy people of DLIR, are currently working on the premier "green" industry of Agriculture. Looking to the community for answers there are public forums set on each island to assess the skills and training needed for current and future workforces. The next one is January 24, 2012 in East Hawaii. The WDC is looking for members of the agriculture community to define the requirements to grow and develop the agriculture industry in their counties, so these forums will be very focused on the needs of the area where they are convened. An example of the agenda from the Oahu can be found on the sesphawaii.com webpage under the NEW! Agriculture Skill Panels Materials (at the bottom of the left hand side grey list of choices.) If you are interested in attending you can contact stanford.j.fichtman@hawaii.gov .

There is a lot of opportunity out there for both employers and employees to catch the "green" wave -- and DLIR has ideas and programs to help!  Let us.  Get in touch with being green.






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