What is a Job Service Employer Committee?

North Carolina's Job Service Employer Committees are a dynamic partnership of private and public sector employers committed to statewide economic growth and workforce development. Traditionally, the role of local Job Service Employer Committees was to advise the Employment Security Commission about its service delivery to the employer community. Over the past twenty-five years, the role of JSECs has expanded to include job development and marketing of ESC services to employers. In recognition of the vital contribution JSECs make to North Carolina's economy, in 1997 the North Carolina General Assembly enacted a law authorizing local JSECs to perform oversight and evaluation of Work First/First Stop initiatives to effectively move individuals from public assistance to meaningful employment. Additionally, North Carolina's JSEC is a primary partner in promulgating and implementing the state's economic development and technology accessibility policies and program directives.

JSEC Structure and Organization
The North Carolina JSEC is comprised of an eight member State Committee and the Local Committees in each of the 100 counties. The State Committee is appointed for two year terms by the Chairman of the Employment Security Commission in consultation with the Governor. Local JSEC members are also appointed by the ESC Chairman for two year terms. Appointments to Local Committees are based on nominations submitted by ESC and JSEC officials.

How does JSEC Membership Benefit North Carolina Employers?

• Access to current information concerning state and national legislative and regulatory developments impacting employers.
• Information about unemployment insurance taxes and employer services [at no cost to employers] provided by employer taxes.
• Local and regional seminars on topics of employer interest.
• Opportunities for networking with local, state and regional employers.
• State of the art access to nationwide labor market information and workforce development trends.

JSEC History in North Carolina
The idea of using employers as "advisors" to State Employment Security Agencies [SESAs] began in the early 1970s. Job Service Employer Committees [JSECs] were developed as pilot projects in key cities across the United States. The initial goals were improvement of ESC's service delivery to employers and strengthening ESC's image in the employer community. The first JSEC, then termed an "employer advisory group," met in Charlotte on October 24, 1975.

The pilot project was a resounding success. Around the country, states began to form their own employer groups. In North Carolina, the Charlotte pilot project was the beginning of a JSEC presence in each of the 100 counties. Currently, more than 1400 employers are involved in local Job Service Employer Committees. The JSEC partnership is a dynamic component of North Carolina's economic development efforts.

Local JSECs are the foundation for state and regional JSEC activities. Local committees must meet at least four times per year. Similarly, the State JSEC typically meets four times a year. Annual conferences are held for members of the Regional JSEC Committee. North Carolina hosted the regional conference in 1997.

JSEC members are nominated by local ESC officials and appointed by the Chairman of the Commission to serve for two-year terms. If you are interested in appointment to a Job Service Employer Committee, complete the JSEC interest form on the web site.

Why participate in JSEC?

PARTNERSHIP
Employers working with ESC have instant access to thousands of qualified applicants through a variety of on-line placement services. ESC offers free professional placement services to help reduce employer recruiting and hiring costs.

COLLABORATION
Employer participation in local JSEC activities provides a forum to discuss "best practices" as well as strategic planning and problem solving for service delivery challenges.

LEADERSHIP
JSECs influence public policy and legislation on the local and state levels. Local committees have submitted proposals for amendments to the ESC law that have become part of the North Carolina General Statutes. Likewise, local JSECs have made recommendations to municipal and county governing bodies. Additionally, Job Service Employer Committees provide visibility for the Employment Security Commission and the state's employers in the General Assembly. Members of the State JSEC and local committees attend critical Legislative Committee meetings bringing an employer-sensitive perspective about ESC, its mission and services.

In recent years, JSEC presence in the legislative arena has increased. In addition to submission of proposed changes to the Employment Security Law, General Assembly members frequently seek JSEC advice about a range of issues from education and workforce preparedness to strategic planning for maintaining solvency of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. North Carolina's lawmakers appreciate the unique focus JSECs have brought to effective implementation of the Workforce Investment Act [WIA]. JSECs continue to play a key role in educating state and local officials about the innovative provisions of HB 275, an unprecedented measure bringing together the resources of the ESC and the State's community colleges to promote workforce access to Internet technology.

EXCELLENCE
Over the past quarter century, North Carolina's JSEC program has distinguished itself as an award winning employer association. In 1996 and 1997, local committees in Hickory/Newton and Durham received state and national leadership honors. Also in 1997, the United States Department of Labor honored the State JSEC as Outstanding Committee. The success of the state's JSEC activity as a contributing factor to the ESC Chairman being named 1998 Outstanding State Administrator by the National Employer Council.

EFFECTIVENESS
JSECs are uniquely situated to impact the state and national legislative processes by being a powerful voice expressing the will of the employer community. For the past twenty-five years North Carolina's JSECs have proven they are a critical component of the state's economic development efforts. The success of North Carolina's efforts to move individuals from public assistance to meaningful work attests to the vital significance of Job Service Employer Committees as partners with the Employment Security Commission and advocates for North Carolina's employers.