4.02.2003 ET

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced a national business partnership with Manpower Inc. to develop joint employment and training strategies. Signed by Emily Stover DeRocco, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training, and Jeffrey A. Joerres, chairman and chief executive officer of Manpower Inc., the groundbreaking partnership brings together, for the first time, two of the largest names in workforce development.

"By partnering with Manpower, we leverage our ability to reach unemployed and under-employed workers," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "More working Americans translates into greater economic growth and personal prosperity."

The Employment and Training Administration created the Partnerships for Jobs Initiative to ensure that large, national businesses are connected to the full range of services available at state and local One-Stop Career Centers. The centers provide training, education and employment services in a single customer-friendly location.

"One-Stop Career Centers prepare workers for the jobs employers need to fill as part of a demand-driven workforce system," said De Rocco. "Partnering with Manpower expands the resources available to train America's workers for good jobs at good pay. And that brings us closer to our goal that no worker will be left behind in today's more complex and competitive global economy."

"During Manpower's 40 years of involvement in workforce development, we've witnessed firsthand the incredibly positive effects that training programs and employment opportunities can have on individuals and the communities where they live and work," said Joerres. "Joining forces with the Department of Labor creates a dynamic partnership with vast resources for putting people to work and providing them with the skills needed to succeed in long-term careers. With our combined expertise and network of outlets, we are poised for success."

"Maypower for Manpower" will kick off the partnership with 120 meetings at local Manpower offices across the country. These meetings will bring staff from Manpower and local One-Stop Career Centers together to begin sharing expertise and building strong relationships at the local level.

Milwaukee-based Manpower Inc. is a world leader in the staffing industry, providing workforce management services and solutions to customers through 1,100 offices nationwide. With 1,900 local One-Stop Career Centers, the Employment and Training Administration, through its state and local partners, seeks to build a strong workforce by matching job training and employment services with current employer needs. Additional information about Partnerships for Jobs and Manpower's National Business Partnership may be found at www.nbpjobs.org.

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