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05/05/2025—The CNMI Department of Labor’s Workforce Investment Agency shared updates on federally funded employment support programs during the Society for Human Resource Management’s general membership meeting last Wednesday, May 1, at Crowne Plaza Resort & Spa Saipan.
WIA director Frances Torres and federal program coordinator Colleen Diaz provided details about how WIA continues to play a key role in supporting local employers and job seekers.
Torres emphasized the importance of employers investing in U.S.-qualified workers and explained how WIA’s program design offers mutual benefits.
“The benefits [include] getting your return in investment,” she said. “You're building your workforce according to what your standards are. You're coaching them, you're mentoring them to be how you want them to be.”
She added that many businesses are struggling to find workers and WIA helps address that gap by subsidizing wages, offering training support, and helping businesses reduce labor costs. The program has a track record of connecting businesses with job seekers who go on to become full-time hires after their WIA program ends.
WIA services are only available to U.S.-qualified individuals in the CNMI. Employers must have been operating for at least a year and be in good standing with relevant government agencies. “Just a legitimate business owner with intention to hire individuals after training,” Torres said.
She added that the most in-demand jobs for the program continue to be in the construction, healthcare, and administrative support sectors. “We see that the tourism industry is hurting due to the economy,” Torres said. “So really jobs are in construction, the trades… [and] medical assistants.”
The WIA program receives its funding through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. Although changes in federal administration sometimes affect grant cycles, WIA currently maintains consistent funding under a formula-based structure. Torres noted that reporting requirements have increased but funding has remained stable.
Diaz said workshops like SHRM’s help inform employers about the resources available. “It allows us to engage with our critical stakeholders—employers—to learn about our programs,” Diaz said. “It’s also a way for them to give feedback on how the programs are working and how we can improve.”
SHRM NMI Chapter president Roman Tudela said the WIA presentation was timely given recent economic developments, including the closure of local businesses and high unemployment rates. “To have a program like WIA to provide funds and job subsidies to employers who are looking for new talent, especially U.S. qualified, is crucial”
One employer who attended the session, Micah Parico-Acuavera, executive administrative assistant at Triple J, said that her company had previously partnered with WIA and found the experience beneficial. “The WIA workshop today is very helpful… we’ve been partners with WIA in the past and it’s a good program,” she said. “It’s helping the company financially when it comes to business operations.”
Tudela also noted that SHRM NMI is facing its own challenges. Membership has decreased in recent years due to rising national dues. He said that companies that once had multiple SHRM members now sometimes only have one active representative.
“It’s becoming difficult to maintain multiple memberships under one company,” he said.
Despite that, he said SHRM NMI remains committed to bringing relevant programs and resources to local employers. He encouraged HR professionals to continue engaging with programs like WIA to help build a stronger and more sustainable workforce.
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session between SHRM members and WIA officials, allowing for direct dialogue on how the agency’s offerings can align with evolving employer needs in the CNMI.
Story Mark Rabago
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