Most communities understand the importance of providing a more coordinated set of talent development solutions for their business. Yet many still struggle with effectively integrating business services across workforce, education, and economic development. As a result, we’re still approaching businesses and their talent needs in silos and only reaching a small share of them. This tool challenges states and local areas to ask themselves: Can we be more responsive to businesses as a collective unit and how can we change what we do to make it happen?
The self-assessment, which was peer-designed as part of the Integrated Business Services cohort project, is made up of a number of indicators that, together, begin to demonstrate what a “high-performing” integrated business services system may look like. Most importantly, this tool is designed as a framework to focus the conversation that states and local areas should be having as they address this challenge.