For Release 8 a.m. CST, May 15, 2002

For more information on Nebraska JobLink:
Joan Modrell, (402) 471-9000, jmodrell@dol.state.ne.us
http://nejoblink.dol.state.ne.us/

For more information about America's JobLink Alliance:
Marc Lowe, (785) 296-5075, mlowe@ajla.net
http://www.kansasjoblink.com/

Nebraska JobLink Unveiled
Involvement with America's Job Link Alliance Saves Time and Money

LINCOLN, NE. - The Nebraska Workforce Development - Department of Labor has unveiled the Nebraska JobLink website. This new website allows job seekers the opportunity to search for jobs, post their resume and apply for jobs online. For Employers, JobLink provides on-line job posting and job tracking services designed to help employers find the talent they need to run their business.

Nebraska JobLink utilizes the America's Job Link Alliance's system design, including job matching and resume management. Nebraska JobLink, reflecting the flexibility of the America's Job Link Alliance approach, was modified to meet specific business requirements in Nebraska as well as to integrate JobLink with the State's Lotus Notes based Staff Assisted Service Interface system.

The Nebraska Workforce Development - Department of Labor estimates that participation in the Alliance saved Nebraska taxpayers at least 1,920 hours of development and $200,000 of developer cost. By collaborating in the Alliance, Nebraska was able to design, develop, and implement a job seeker and employer self-service tool utilizing O*NET in less than 6 months. Because of Nebraska's participation in the America's Job Link Alliance, the state was able to leverage the analysis, functionality, and design of the self-service module for employers and job seekers, which was already developed and tested by other Alliance members.

"Our involvement in the Alliance not only saved us time and money, but it provided us with a product that could be easily adapted to our needs," said Nebraska Commissioner of Labor Fernando Lecuona III.

"We were confident that the JobLink website would work the way we expected, and more importantly the way our job seekers and employers expect," continued Lecuona.

America's Job Link Alliance

The America's Job Link Alliance is an innovative approach to building technology solutions while allowing members of the Alliance to maximize the return on their investments in workforce development strategies. The concept behind the Alliance was to create a framework to allow states to accept, modify and implement technology solutions built and tested by others. In return, states agree to share modules, programs, and enhancements to the system, which they have developed, with the other members. This arrangement reduces the development risk and cost for all members of the Alliance. In addition to providing technological solutions, members of the Alliance share marketing ideas, lessons learned, and training materials to improve their business practices and foster innovation.

The America's Job Link Alliance is an innovative approach to systems building that is redefining how states resolve their systems building needs and helping them reach the highest level of success in workforce development strategies and business practices.

Current members of the Alliance include the Idaho Department of Labor, the Kansas Department of Human Resources, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Nebraska Workforce Development - Department of Labor, the New Mexico Department of Labor, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, and the Vermont Department of Employment and Training.

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