Since 2021, the United States has seen historic investments in infrastructure, digital equity, and economic development that will have significant implications for the U.S. workforce and labor market. The combined investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS) are estimated to support nearly three million jobs per year over the lifespan of the laws. The success of these investments, however, hinges on a new generation of workers having access to the education, skills training, and economic supports they need to access good jobs and careers in this booming sector.

These workers will inevitably and necessarily include many parents, whose caregiving and family responsibilities play a role in their decision and ability to take advantage of growing infrastructure job opportunities. For these people—referred to here broadly as ‘parents,’ but which include biological and adoptive parents, people caring for grandchildren, siblings, or other family members, and other caregivers—policies, systems, and practices that take their role as family caregivers into consideration in their design and implementation are critical to ensuring their access to the infrastructure jobs available now and those on the horizon.

In addition, ensuring women and mothers, and especially single mothers and Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian and Pacific Islander mothers, have access to these quality infrastructure job opportunities is essential, given the implications of these opportunities for their families’ wellbeing and their children’s chances of success. Women and Black workers are underrepresented in nearly all the sectors that are projected to grow with the BIL, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS investments, particularly among higher-paying sectors. Given the changing demographics of the U.S. workforce, it will be nearly impossible for clean energy and infrastructure employers to find the skilled workforce they need without establishing more inclusive pathways for workers who have traditionally been underrepresented in these industries.

Millions of Parents Stand to Benefit from Opportunities to Build Skills for In-Demand Infrastructure Jobs

Many of the people pursuing skills training that prepares them to fill in-demand infrastructure jobs will be parents. Research from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research finds that, of the nearly thirty-five million people who hold some college credit but no degree, more than a third (a little over twelve million) are parents of at least one child under eighteen living in their household. Single parents—and single mothers in particular—are the least likely to hold college degrees, and most likely to have earned some college credit but no degree. Many of the people who have some college credit but not a degree are Black and Indigenous parents and single mothers.

These parents are primed to benefit from access to affordable, flexible, and supportive education and training opportunities that lead to quality infrastructure jobs. But for them to be able to do so, we must work to remove the structural barriers that have stood in their way in the past and establish student- and family-centered policies and systems.

Ensuring decision makers understand and are considering the needs of parents in policy design and implementation will play a role in how successful we are at meeting the need for a diverse infrastructure workforce and an inclusive economy. NSC’s engagement with workforce education and training program leaders, policy advocates and researchers, and student parents themselves has revealed that parents in skills training experience heightened basic needs insecurity and challenges related to balancing family, work, and school. While this is not unlike the experiences of parents in degree programs, parents pursuing short-term, career-focused programs at community colleges—especially those that are not offered for credit—are often less likely to receive the same supports or services as students pursuing degrees or credit-bearing programs.

Policy and Systems Changes Are Needed to Facilitate Parents’ Entry into Infrastructure Jobs

Changing how our postsecondary system and policies conceive of and treat students who pursue non-degree programs and pathways is a first step to building a more equitable system that embraces parents and others who do not fit the traditional college student mold. In fact, research supports the idea that taking a two-generation approach to designing education and training opportunities for parents and their children can result in better outcomes for both—and for society at large.

NSC’s network, including its Making College Work Student Advisory Council, has emphasized the need for a range of improvements to how our social welfare, postsecondary, and workforce development systems support parents in skills training. These improvements include:

• Increasing access to and the accessibility of public benefits programs for parents in skills training, such as food stamps (SNAP), education and training support through SNAP E&T, cash assistance (TANF), and child care assistance, including raising income cutoffs for eligibility so that parents who advance along their career paths do not lose benefits as a consequence of small wage increases.
• Making child care more affordable and accessible for families, including a diverse array of child care models, so that parents—particularly single mothers—can feasibly take the time and resources needed to invest in skills training.
• Improving the availability of high-quality non-degree programs and career pathways—and financial aid to support their enrollment—that result in credentials that are valued by employers and can open doors to further educational attainment and career advancement.

In addition, our higher education, workforce development, and career and technical education systems must work to actively expose women and people of color to the infrastructure field as a viable career option, despite it being traditionally male and white dominated. NSC’s conversations with experts, advocates, and practitioners emphasize the need for intentional education and career advising/coaching that presents critical information and guidance to women and mothers of color. This guidance would allow them to make informed decisions and consider pathways that may be outside the “norm” but hold promise for their careers and economic mobility.

Policy Levers to Support Parents on Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs

As state workforce and economic development leaders put the influx of federal infrastructure dollars to work in their states and communities, they must consider how to encourage a diverse cross-section of residents to pursue training and careers in infrastructure—many of whom will be parents. NSC will continue to explore and encourage ways that skills training policy change can support greater diversification of the infrastructure workforce through its People Powered Infrastructure campaign, including by prioritizing engagement and support of parents and other caregivers. In addition, check out these resources to help guide advocacy and systems change:

• Building the Future Workforce: A State Playbook to Shape a New Age in Federal Infrastructure Investments
• Tools for Building an Equitable Infrastructure Workforce: Gender Equity Strategies as a Model
• Effective and Inclusive Child Care Solutions: Toolkit for Implementing the CHIPS & Science Act
• Advancing Equity: Strategies to Recruit More Black, Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC) and Women to Green Skilled Trades/Crafts, and STEM Job Training
• How To Support Good Jobs and Workforce Equity on Federal Infrastructure Projects

The post Centering Parents in the Future Infrastructure Workforce appeared first on National Skills Coalition.

As part of the People Powered Infrastructure campaign, the project’s goal is to increase the number of training and support service programs, with a focus on greater racial and gender workforce diversity. 

With nearly 3 million jobs per year expected to be generated by recent investments in infrastructure, the need for a collaborative effort like this is urgent. Moreover, while 69% of those jobs will be available to workers without a bachelor’s degree, there’s an anticipated labor shortage of 1.1 million workers who, without training and other workforce investments, will lack the skills to fill these jobs. 

“Ensuring equitable access to infrastructure and clean energy jobs is not just a moral imperative; it’s an economic necessity. By acting now, we can empower millions of workers, particularly women and workers of color, to contribute to our nation’s prosperity,” said Annika Cole, Advocacy Manager at Chicago Jobs Council, a proud partner in this project. 

“We are thrilled to join forces with National Skills Coalition and our fellow partners to tackle the urgent need for workers in infrastructure and clean energy sectors. Together, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and resilient workforce,” said Marcela Díaz, Executive Director at New Mexico-based organization Somos Un Pueblo Unido, joining this vital initiative. 

NSC will assist the Infrastructure Equity Policy Project partners through May 2025 as they work to advance state policies that intentionally increase quality career opportunities for women and people of color. NSC will also work with partners to build coalitions between workforce advocates; racial and gender equity organizations; and environmental, labor, and workers’ rights groups—allowing states to create equitable opportunities for all people to train for good jobs in this growing sector. 

During this project, partners will: 

• Develop policy recommendations and advocacy plans 
• Build allyship and coalitions with other influential stakeholders 
• Amplify the voices of working people and small businesses 
• Engage with and learn from other selected partners 

The partners in the Infrastructure Equity Policy Project include: 

• Capital Workforce Partners (Connecticut) 
• Chicago Jobs Council (Illinois)
• Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute (Indiana)
• North Carolina Budget and Tax Center (North Carolina)
• Somos Un Pueblo Unido (New Mexico) 
• New York Association of Training and Employment (New York)
• Ohio Workforce Coalition (Ohio)
• Partner4Work (Pennsylvania)
• United Ways of Texas (Texas)
• Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (Washington)
• Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership, Inc. (Wisconsin)

Ultimately, NSC hopes that by working with partners in states to increase the number of training and support programs that prepare workers for infrastructure and clean energy jobs—with a strong focus on increasing racial and gender diversity within these programs—states can cultivate a strong, diverse, and multigenerational workforce that’s capable of driving the development and maintenance of our nation’s new and green infrastructure. 

To make sure you’re keeping up with the latest news on the Infrastructure Equity Policy Project, sign up to the People Powered Infrastructure campaign newsletter. 

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An infrastructure workforce challenge 

NSC (National Skills Coalition) recently commissioned a report with BlueGreen Alliance from researchers at Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The report, Unprecedented Opportunity: Meeting the Workforce Demands of New Clean Energy, Manufacturing, and Infrastructure Investments, identifies an anticipated labor shortage of 1.1 million workers concentrated in construction. This shortage highlights the need to connect workers to training and supports that will provide access to the skills needed to access these good jobs which, on average, pay more than 10% above the U.S. median hourly wage. 

The BUILDS Act: A Key Component of the Solution 

The BUILDS Act which was recently reintroduced in the Senate by Senator Kaine (D-VA) after previous reintroduction in the House last fall by Representatives Bonamici (D-OR) and GT Thompson (R-PA) could help support industry needs and access to workforce training to address the anticipated labor shortage in infrastructure. 

The bipartisan legislation (which stands for “Building U.S Infrastructure by Leveraging Demand for Skills”) would establish a grant program to support industry and sector partnerships and workforce development efforts related to infrastructure. The grants could be used to establish and convene sector partnerships, navigate Registered Apprenticeship registration, connect with education partners, and design curriculum. The grants would also support workers both before and during employment by providing training, attire, tools, services like childcare and transportation meant to support workers during their first six months of employment. Some supports would last more than a year to ensure participants are able to remain in and complete programs. 

At NSC, we often analyze the BUILDS Act through the lens of our People Powered Infrastructure Campaign because it focuses on the infrastructure space, it has broad implications for our work. Establishing and convening industry and sector partnerships, worker training, and supports are components of many of NSC’s legislative recommendations to Congress. These partnerships have a proven track record of identifying and meeting workforce needs across various industries.  

Legislative Prospects and Advocacy 

While BUILDS is unlikely to pass as a standalone bill, there is hope that it will be incorporated into the upcoming reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), currently being negotiated in the Senate. 

During the 2024 Skills Summit, NSC partners met with lawmakers to highlight the critical need to invest in partnerships and supportive services to meet our nation’s workforce needs and highlighted the BUILDS act as part of that advocacy. NSC staff will continue these conversations to ensure that WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) reauthorization meets the needs of workers and employers alike.  

The post How the BUILDS Act can Ease America’s Infrastructure Labor Shortage appeared first on National Skills Coalition.

This group of thought leaders endeavors to play a key role in pushing for meaningful policy change (such as investing in industry-sector partnerships and quality apprenticeships skills training strategies) to support successful clean energy projects and provide economic opportunities for workers in a growing industry.   

“It’s important for public agencies, companies, community colleges, and workforce development stakeholders to come together to envision skills training and registered apprenticeship policies that will not only maximize infrastructure investments and expand benefits, but also create new pathways to good jobs for underrepresented groups including, black and brown workers, women, young people, veterans and re-entry citizens” said Victoria Johnson, Global Equity Director at HDR Engineering, Inc– an employee-owned, professional services firm specializing in architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services. Johnson is also a BLU Executive Committee Member.  

Recent analysis commissioned by NSC, BlueGreen Alliance and conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Political Economy Research Institute shows that the combined investments of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science act will create millions of new jobs – but does so without investing enough in education and training to equip workers with these skills.

In the clean energy sector specifically, tax credits passed through the Inflation Reduction Act provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow our clean energy infrastructure. But Congress did not provide new apprenticeship resources to meet the credit’s requirements, and policymakers did not provide significant, dedicated funding for skills training to support this growth. Reaching the clean energy goals of federal investments will require expanding the talent pipeline to bring new workers into the field, especially women, workers of color, and young people. 

Fortunately, as projects begin across the country, states can prioritize skills training investments to support business growth and economic opportunity for workers. The day-long policy discussion focused on identifying state policies that are already working for business leaders – particularly those policies that build and diversify the registered apprenticeship pipeline and those that help local businesses hire apprentices to take advantage of the IRA tax credits. Participants also focused on how industry-sector partnerships between employers, training providers and community colleges, community-based organizations, and labor organizations are critical to meeting the needs of employers and workers alike. These models can inspire legislation in other states and further investment at the federal level.

Following the policy discussion, business leaders met with Congressional and committee staff. It was an important moment for policymakers to hear from the clean energy sector about their skills training challenges and successes. Participants shared their experiences and insights about what federal action is needed to meet the workforce needs of employers. “Bipartisan policies that advance workforce development on-the-job training programs are critical to ensuring that disadvantaged citizens have equitable opportunities for sustainable, good paying green jobs and careers that align with federal initiatives to address the climate crisis,” said Tina White, CEO of TINA’s Green Energy Solutions – a company that sells and installs electric vehicle charging stations.  

Lindsay Blummer is President and CEO of WRTP/Big Step in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership has programs and services that focus on green construction and clean energy. “Convenings focused on the next iteration of the clean energy economy like this one are imperative for understanding and lifting the voices of all stakeholders,” Blummer says. “We have the opportunity to build a robust and diverse workforce to meet the demands of high road employers and our nation’s need for clean energy. These discussions must continue to include workforce best practices, worker voice and employer engagement as this is an opportunity to create a responsive, diverse, safe, and effective sector for generations.”

BLU plans to use the momentum from this event to build support for federal and state investments in pre-apprenticeships and industry sector partnerships – particularly bringing the business voice to state-level advocacy efforts. 

For photos, check our flickr page.

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Investing in Training for Infrastructure Skills

At NSC we’ll be listening for President Biden to talk about one of his signature policy achievements – our country’s historic investments in job creation and Infrastructure through three new federal laws – the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Addressing our crumbling infrastructure and modernizing it is a topic that resonates with the public. Americans of all political stripes are concerned about the state of the nation’s roads and bridges, public transportation, and the shift to renewable energy and green technology – as well as the job creation and economic growth spurred by the investments. 

Recently, National Skills Coalition and BlueGreen Alliance commissioned a study conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Political Economy Research Institute that found the new laws are expected to generate 2.9 million total jobs per year – and that sixty-nine percent of those jobs won’t require a bachelor’s degree. Unfortunately, the study anticipates a labor shortage of 1.1 million workers because, without additional investments in training and supports, our workforce lacks the access to the skills and training they need to get these infrastructure jobs – and businesses won’t have access to a pipeline of skilled workers. 

Accordingly, we’ll be listening for the president to address this pressing need to train workers to fill the jobs created by these laws as they’re implemented. In particular, these infrastructure investments have the potential to create job opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds and communities. However, access to training and education can be a barrier for many, especially for women, people of color and people without any training beyond high school. By highlighting the need for training workers in his State of the Union address, the president can underscore his administration’s commitment to expanding opportunities for all Americans in an equitable way – in line with his 2021 Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities. 

Closing the Digital Skill Divide

If the president does mentions skills training – we hope he’ll also mention digital skills and how important it is to invest in closing the digital skill divide. According to a recent analysis by National Skills Coalition and The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta ninety-two percent of jobs now require digital skills of some kind. There’s strong demand for digital skills across every industry and in almost every occupation, including entry-level and frontline positions at small, medium, and large businesses. And it’s highly likely that at least some foundational digital skills are necessary for most of the jobs being created by the new infrastructure law. That’s why the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act was passed as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – it’s funding to advance digital equity among populations most impacted by the digital divide. We’ll be listening for President Biden to signal support for policies that guarantee foundational digital skills for all, lifelong upskilling opportunities for current workers, and rapid re-skilling for workers who’ve lost their jobs. Related: read the president’s Executive Order on AI (Artificial Intelligence). 

Broadening the Path to Postsecondary Education

Of course, the place where workers will likely train for digital skills or infrastructure jobs is at their local community college or other local training program – often in partnership with local businesses looking to hire. So, skills advocates should have an ear out for policy proposals that aim to widen the path to postsecondary education, begin to redress structural racism in our education and training systems, and makes college work for everyone – for new majority learners, for business, and for our economy at large.  

Our Making College Work Campaign is pushing for reforms that would: 

• Cover the Costs of College: increase equitable access to financial aid and debt-free postsecondary pathways leading to economic mobility – including high-quality, short-term programs and pathways. 
• Support Students Holistically: ensure all students have the support they need to access and complete college – including access to public benefits, childcare, transportation, coaching, and navigation services. 
• Strengthen Partnerships & Create Career Pathways: support industry partnerships with community colleges and career pathways programs that lead to quality careers. 
• Use Data to Drive Equity and Outcomes: ensure equity, quality, transparency, and accountability through improved data collection, analysis, and reporting.
  

Creating an Equitable, Resilient Workforce

Although we don’t expect the President will dive into details about how to strengthen our public workforce system or mention the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act – it would hearten and inspire business leaders and skills advocates alike to hear language about investing in a dynamic and inclusive workforce system that’s equipped to address structural inequities in our labor market and adequately resourced to give workers and businesses access to the skills training they need – so that workers, businesses, and our economy are resilient in the face of future economic shifts.

Our coalition has been leading the conversation about how policies that improve access to skills training can contribute to an inclusive economy and to an equitable, inclusive workforce system that works for the people and businesses that need it most. It’s thanks to your ongoing advocacy that President Biden, the White House, the administration, Congress, and federal policymakers in every agency are well-briefed about the skills training that jobs that are at the backbone of our economy. Stay tuned to NSC’s channels during the State of the Union for reactions and opportunities to turn up the heat on our skills advocacy. 

The post Here’s what Skills Advocates Should be Listening for in the State of the Union Address appeared first on National Skills Coalition.

Fortunately, in 2022, our country invested roughly $2 trillion in infrastructure through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Chips and Science Act. And thanks to new research from NSC, Blue Green Alliance and the Political Economy Research Institute at UMass Amherst, we know those laws will support nearly 3 million jobs per year over the life span of the laws. That’s 19 million job-years**.  

Nearly 70% of the direct jobs supported by these new laws won’t require a college degree. Rather, they’ll require some kind of skills training – like a certificate, credential, apprenticeship or on-the-job training beyond high school. 

Hiring trained workers for these jobs (and of course the success of planned infrastructure projects) hinges on a new generation of workers having access to the education, skills training, economic supports, and hiring and career advancement opportunities they need to land jobs in the booming infrastructure and clean energy sectors. 

If we are serious about training the next generation of infrastructure workers – as well as ensuring that these investments contribute to an inclusive economy – we need to intentionally open the door to millions of workers who want to train for a new career in infrastructure – particularly women and workers of color. 

That’s why NSC launched our People Powered Infrastructure Campaign – to urge federal and state policymakers to: 

• Expand access to skills training offered through registered apprenticeship programs and workforce programs at community and technical colleges. 
   
• Invest in industry partnerships in the infrastructure field and support their capacity to engage in equity-advancing practices. 
   
• Provide economic support like childcare and transportation to make skills training and career transitions possible.

• Incentivize and support training, hiring, and career advancement of local residents.
    
• Collect data and report on jobs outcomes of federal infrastructure spending with attention to race, gender, and geography.  

Thanks in part to our coalition’s steady advocacy – including the influence of NSC and Business Leaders United’s expert industry recovery panels (and the perspectives we offered to the Biden Administration and Congress) these historic, once-in-a-generation infrastructure investments present many opportunities to invest in skills training and workforce – but those training-specific investments won’t be realized without our advocacy.  Policymakers have a lot of work left to do to truly support people powered infrastructure and drive an inclusive economy – and that’s what our campaign will be focused on through 2024. 

Implementing infrastructure and clean energy investments in the states 

In the states, NSC is turning our attention to assisting state coalitions and state network partners to influence implementation of the law through policy and advocacy campaigns and technical assistance. At the end of last year, we released Building the Future Workforce – a playbook for state policymakers, governors, advocates and state agency leaders who want to cultivate a strong, diverse, multigenerational infrastructure workforce. The playbook will be a north star for our planned assistance to state partners. It offers six recommendations and four case studies that illustrate how state policymakers can connect more working people to quality infrastructure and clean energy jobs and create benefits for residents, businesses, and communities that rely on the implementation and maintenance of critical infrastructure.  

Our Business Leaders United for Workforce Partnerships campaign plans to leverage business voices in support of equitable skills training policies in the states, particularly to expand and diversify the clean energy workforce. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act includes several tax credits to incentivize and finance clean energy projects, but employers must meet apprenticeship requirements to maximize the value of the credits. In April, BLU leaders will be hosting clean energy employers and a range of stakeholders to examine how states can expand apprenticeships and other investments in inclusive skills training to meet the demand for a skilled and diverse workforce in this growing industry.   

Influencing federal policymakers 

NSC is also focused on implementation at the federal level and plans to bring the expertise of our coalition partners to policymakers at four key agencies – the departments of Energy, Transportation, Commerce and Labor to inform and guide implementation of the federal infrastructure laws through the regulatory process. We’ll be reaching out to our coalition with opportunities for comment and other occasions for advocacy. 

On Capitol Hill this year, we’ll be following the progress of the BUILDS Act, bipartisan legislation introduced in the House by Representatives Bonamici (D-OR) and Thompson (R-PA) (There’s a companion bill in the Senate by Senator Kaine (D-VA)).  The BUILDS Act would provide workers with skills needed to fill infrastructure jobs by creating new grants for industry partnerships in the infrastructure sector. The bill includes funding for support services like childcare and transportation to help workers to complete the program. Passing the BUILDS Act would be a step toward meeting our nation’s infrastructure workforce needs. This year, we’ll be advocating for BUILDS or for its language to be included in WIOA authorization. 

We’ll also be closely following the appropriations process and the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).  While investments from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Chips and Science Act included some workforce development programs, the laws were not accompanied by the robust package of investments that NSC coalition partners advocated for.  NSC will be looking for opportunities for our coalition to influence the annual appropriations process and WIOA reauthorization conversations to ensure that the workforce system can support the infrastructure jobs being created. And we’ll be urging against proposed cuts to non-defense discretionary spending that would impact the workforce system’s ability to support training and supportive services for individuals trying to access infrastructure careers.  

Join our Campaign for People Powered Infrastructure! 

Throughout 2024, we’ll be calling upon our network – workforce advocates and business leaders alike – to weigh in on implementation and legislation – including meeting in person with legislators on Capitol Hill at the 2024 Skills Summit. You can register for the Summit to learn more about upcoming skills legislation and share your expertise with federal policymakers and their staff. 

If you haven’t joined our People Powered Infrastructure Campaign yet – sign our petition today and stay tuned for opportunities to shape investments in local, state, and federal skills training policy that will build an inclusive infrastructure workforce. 

** A job-year is one person working at one job for one year.  

The post Shaping Infrastructure Investments: People Powered Infrastructure Campaign Update appeared first on National Skills Coalition.

As fall approaches, many SkillSPAN coalitions are reflecting on spring and summer policy wins, finishing out busy legislative sessions, and planning for 2024. This blog highlights a small portion of SkillSPAN achievements in the first half of the year.  

SkillSPAN Coalitions are Making College Work 

Throughout the first half of 2023, several SkillSPAN coalitions advanced policy priorities to make college work for working people and businesses.  

• Michigan SkillSPAN successfully advocated to lower the age of eligibility for Michigan Reconnect, which offers tuition free certificate and degree programs at MI’s community and tribal colleges, from 25 years old to 21. This win builds on previous advocacy efforts to increase wrap-around supports for Reconnect students and to increase funding for the program, moving Michigan one step closer to offering debt free financial aid.  
• Indiana SkillSPAN worked with state legislators to pass HB 1160, which enables colleges to establish pilot campus navigator programs. The coalition leveraged their January 2023 report on educational attainment in Indiana to push for this policy win.  

Digital Equity @ Work Remains a SkillSPAN Priority  

•  In Colorado, SkillSPAN convened a group of adult education providers to help pass SB 7, an adult education bill with a focus on digital equity. The bill adds a digital literacy component to the basic education offered in adult education programs. This addition supports Colorado in its efforts to build a digital skill foundation for all its residents and is in line with NSC’s Digital Equity @ Work recommendations.  
• NSC also supported several SkillSPAN coalitions, including Louisiana and North Carolina, in weighing in on their states’ Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and Digital Equity Act state plans. 

SkillSPAN Primed to Advocate for Investment in People-Powered Infrastructure 

State governments have begun to receive funds from federal infrastructure laws aimed at rebuilding our nation’s roads and bridges, fighting climate change, expanding broadband, and upgrading public transit, utility, and energy systems. As federal money flows to states, SkillSPAN coalitions are primed to emphasize the necessity of investing in people in order to meet these goals.  

• The Wisconsin SkillSPAN lead organization, WRTP/BIG STEP, convened a coalition of advocates to focus on the workforce development needed to successfully expand broadband in WI. The state Public Service Commission selected the coalition, known as the Wisconsin Broadband Workforce Coalition, to lead the state’s workforce development planning efforts. Placing workforce experts at the center of the planning process is a major step forward in training a diverse, multi-generational workforce to power WI’s broadband infrastructure.  

SkillSPAN Networks Lead on Creating an Equitable, Resilient Workforce System 

SkillSPAN is leading the conversation on new policies and implementation strategies that can create an equitable, resilient workforce system that works for the people and businesses that need it most.  

• SkillSPAN partners in Illinois were tapped to join Governor Pritzker’s Commission on Workforce Equity and Access. In April 2023, the Commission authored recommendations to create a more accessible, inclusive, and responsive workforce development system.  
• In Massachusetts, HD 1421 and SD 954 aim to expand access to state workforce data and improve data systems infrastructure. These bills were introduced by the state’s SkillSPAN coalition to better understand the employment outcomes of individuals served by the state’s publicly funded workforce system with hopes to support more equitable workforce outcomes. MA SkillSPAN recently testified on the bills with hopes to continue moving this legislation forward.  

What’s Next?  

Throughout the rest of the year, NSC and SkillSPAN will continue to advance policies that increase access to high-quality skills training. Be on the lookout for NSC’s upcoming publication, Building the Future Workforce a playbook designed to provide guidance for states to invest in a people-powered infrastructure.  To keep up to date on our work, sign up for our newsletter or register to attend the 2023 Skills in the States Forum in November 2023. The Forum convenes state and local leaders from across the country to highlight new policy innovations and discuss how state networks are expanding economic opportunity and racial equity for workers while boosting local businesses.  

The post 2023 Workforce Wins: SkillSPAN Leads on Advancing Equitable State Skills Policies appeared first on National Skills Coalition.

The employers are members of Business Leaders United for Workforce Partnerships, and the effort was part of National Skills Coalition’s People Powered Infrastructure Campaign – a campaign urging lawmakers to invest in training the next generation of infrastructure workers – to fill the jobs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other legislation. 

NSC and BLU were instrumental in advocating for the passage of a range of laws that will invest billions of dollars in infrastructure projects, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA),  the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and the the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – it’s the one year anniversary of President Biden signing the act into law today.  

NSC and BLU networks are now working to bring the on-the-ground expertise of our advocates and business leaders to inform the implementation of those laws by federal agencies in order to achieve a diverse, multi-generational infrastructure workforce. 

Participants included: 

• Joseph Lillyblad, Director of Education & Workforce, Georgia Power 
• Christopher Girdwood, CEO, Detroit Region Aerotropolis Development Corporation (Michigan) 
• Kevin Johnson, CEO, NexGen Interactive LLC (Ohio) 
• David Brown, CIO, NexGen Interactive LLC (Ohio) 
• Patrick Maher, COO, Casella Construction (Vermont) 
• Jason Mann, Business Development Specialist, Howard Companies (Indiana) 

To join Business Leaders United and advocate for skills training on behalf of small and medium businesses – please visit our site to sign up or contact Jeran Culina.

Industry partnerships bring together local businesses, community colleges, training providers, community organizations, and unions and worker organizations to develop industry-specific workforce strategies and provide training that supports local and regional demand. They’re instrumental in supporting workers’ access to in-demand skills and businesses’ ability to inform and support the training that workers receive. 

Employers brought their sector partnership success stories to the meetings – telling policymakers about how well-resourced sector partnerships lead to greater worker retention, wages, and stronger industry engagement with our public workforce and education systems. They also talked about the barriers they faced in creating sector partnerships, and how policymakers can help ensure that talent enters the infrastructure field. They urged policymakers to dedicate resources to develop and expand sector partnerships – including as a key tool to expand access to good jobs for underrepresented populations in the growing infrastructure sector. 

“Meaningful sector partnerships require resources to make them happen – and most businesses simply don’t have the capacity to be constantly searching for funding,” said Jason Mann a Business Development Specialist at Howard Companies (an asphalt paving company located in Indianapolis, Indiana). “That’s why the opportunity to talk to policymakers about investments that support sector partnerships is so critical – it’s one way federal and state governments can be a real partner to business, build out the workforce and support critical sectors of the economy.”  

Employers also urged policymakers to support data collection that helps business align their needs with future opportunities. Data collection and analysis is critical to understanding how federal resources are being used to support workforce development. For example, it’s helpful for businesses (and potential workers) to understand how many jobs will be created, what kind of training is being offered, and if the training provided and jobs created are benefiting underrepresented populations.  Currently, businesses, workers, students, and the general public don’t have access to data that will tell them what future jobs will be, the demand for them, and what skills are needed to fill them. 

It’s a critical time to engage lawmakers on training for infrastructure fields 

In 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – a law intended to address the deteriorating state of our nation’s infrastructure by bolstering the capacity of the infrastructure sector and equipping workers with the necessary skills, training, and resources to get jobs in the infrastructure sector. Along with key programs and pieces of legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, massive investments are already spurring projects and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country to rebuild our nation’s roads and bridges, expand broadband, upgrade public transit, utilities, and clean energy systems among other projects. The success of planned infrastructure projects hinges on a new generation of workers having access to the education, skills training, and economic supports they need to access good jobs and careers in this booming sector. 

If our country is serious about being competitive in a global economy and training the next generation of workers, as well as ensuring that federal investments contribute to an inclusive economy, we need to intentionally open the door to millions of workers who want to train for a new career in infrastructure – particularly workers of color, women, and immigrants. These workers have long been underrepresented in quality careers in infrastructure fields and were also disproportionately working in industries impacted by the COVID-19 recession. 

Furthermore, if we want a trained workforce capable of meeting the increased demands of infrastructure projects, state policymakers, advocates, unions, employers, training providers, community-based organizations, and community and technical colleges will need to work together to ensure that these resources are used wisely and equitably to build a diverse, multigenerational workforce trained to power our infrastructure for the next decade and beyond.

The post Policymakers hear why supporting partnerships & skills training are critical to US infrastructure goals appeared first on National Skills Coalition.

Investing in our workforce system is key to responding to the widespread and urgent need for workers to access skills training to fill good jobs – and an important step to building a truly inclusive economy. 

Yet, instead of meeting this need, the House of Representatives proposed a funding bill that would decimate critical workforce funding sources; prevent working people from accessing the skills they need to compete; and leave businesses desperate to hire skilled workers – especially in industries at the backbone of our economy that are desperate for federal investments in skills training like infrastructure and manufacturing. 

Last month, the House Appropriations sub-committee released bills to fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the 2024 Fiscal Year. The bills (often referred to as “Labor HHS”) provides annual funding for workforce programs including WIOA Title I (which supports training for adults, dislocated workers, and youth) as well as apprenticeship, adult education, career and technical education and other important programs.  

The Senate proposal, while not increasing budgets, does not make significant cuts and preserves existing programs

To be clear: neither the Senate nor House funding proposals meets the needs of our current workforce system, much less moves us toward an inclusive economy. But the current political divide makes funding increases for the next fiscal year very unlikely. And if the House bill is enacted, cuts to workforce funding would harm people and businesses who rely on skills training programs – particularly women, people of color, and low-income workers. Furthermore, the House bill doesn’t stop at proposing funding cuts but proposes policy changes outside of the scope of funding that would hurt women, transgender people, and the LGBT community.  

What happened? 

Due to an earlier agreement to prevent default on the nation’s debt, the 118th Congress had decided to keep funding for non-defense spending relatively the same as 2023 spending – including Labor HHS spending.   

With their bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee stayed true to the spirit of the funding compromise and kept funding levels largely the same. That bill was approved by the Committee with wide bipartisan margins and will head to the Senate floor when the chamber returns from the August Recess. 

On the other side of the Capitol, House Republicans on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee released a budget proposal that makes extensive cuts to critical workforce programs and completely eliminates funding for WIOA Youth Training, Job Corps, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program. Unlike the Senate’s bipartisan bill, only Republicans support the House legislation.  The bill will still need a vote in the full House Committee on Appropriations before seeing any action on the House floor. 

Contact your member of Congress today encouraging them to pass workforce funding at least by the Senate proposed numbers.

Chart: Proposed funding levels for workforce programs

Creating an Equitable, Resilient Workforce System 

Through our Creating an Equitable, Resilient Workforce campaign, NSC has been advocating to change WIOA from an underfunded system to one that is adequately resourced to deliver high-quality skills training that supports the assets and aspirations of working people, helps small businesses, and advances racial equity and pathways to quality jobs.  

 The House bill’s draconian bill proposes more than $1 billion in cuts to WIOA Title I State Formula Grants with the majority of those cuts coming from the elimination of Youth activities. This is a major source of funding for states and local areas to create a workforce plans and run skills programs.  These cuts also include nearly $175 million from adult programs. This is funding that adults – including immigrants, veterans, English as a Second Language learners, and workers with low incomes rely on to get trained, upskill, or reskill their careers.  And these cuts are on top of a $712 million rescission of FY23 formula funding from Adult Employment and Training activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which would effectively defund the nation’s primary funding stream for quickly connecting adults with employment and training opportunities. 

The Senate largely proposes level funding for WIOA programs and proposes a 6% decrease from Dislocated Worker National Reserve funds.  

People Powered Infrastructure 

Starting now, and lasting for at least the next decade, billions of dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will flow to states with the intention of modernizing American infrastructure –from fixing crumbling roads and bridges, to establishing electric vehicle charging networks, to deploying broadband internet. The success of planned infrastructure projects hinges on a new generation of workers having access to the education, skills training, and economic supports they need to access good jobs and careers in this booming sector. That’s why NSC’s People Powered Infrastructure Campaign urges policymakers to invest in people as well as hard infrastructure. 

Unfortunately, House Republicans have proposed eliminating programs such as WIOA Youth Training, Senior Community Service Employment Program, and Job Corps – cuts that would severely limit the amount of talent available to get these jobs.  

The cuts in the House bill also threaten funding for industry sector partnerships. These partnerships between training providers and businesses are key for ensuring that training meets business demand, and workers are trained for jobs that are available within their community – especially for the jobs being created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Without dedicated federal funding for sector partnerships, businesses and training providers will have to scramble for additional funding and cause gaps in hiring.   

The Senate proposed bill remains largely level across programs that are needed to create a people-powered infrastructure. 

Neither bill offers dedicated funding for industry sector partnerships, and the Senate bill cuts 15% from Strengthening Community College grants, which serve to fund partnerships between community colleges and businesses.   

Making College Work  

Through our Making College Work campaign, NSC is urging policymakers to make college work for working people, businesses, and our economy by adopting higher education policies that fully support working people’s needs, career goals, and economic mobility.  

The House bill could not be more out of step with NSC’s priorities. The bill: 

• Proposes a 29% cut to the budget of the Department of Education (which funds most of our public education system), including completely eliminating the Office of Communication within the Department of Education.  
• The bill fails to provide an increase for the maximum Pell Grant award for the first time since 2012. 
• Eliminates key family planning services, crucial for students who are also juggling families.  
• Guts Federal Work Study programs, which are key for students who need to work through their post-secondary education in order to afford it.  

Meanwhile, the Senate-proposed bill proposes modest increases of three percent to key education programs such as Career and Technical Education programs and increases the maximum Pell Grant award by three percent. These increases are critical to workers’ access to skills programs, and a slight increase is movement in the right direction. Without a greater increase, and commensurate investments across the Labor-HHS bill, however, Congress still falls short of what workers and businesses need.  

Digital Equity @ Work  

More than ever before, it is imperative that workers have access to digital skills training if they’re going to compete in today’s job market. A groundbreaking analysis by NSC and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found that ninety-two percent of jobs require digital skills but that 1/3 of workers don’t have the foundational digital skills necessary to enter and thrive in today’s job market. 

The House bill cuts a whopping nineteen percent from the Department of Labor meaning that many programs that have digital skills training as an allowable use of funds, particularly WIOA activities, will not be able to be administered. Any cut to WIOA is a cut to digital equity and deepens the digital skill divide.  

Appropriations bills hurt racial equity in the workforce system 

Structural racism has negatively impacted workforce policies and our workforce system and contributed to economic inequality – from Black workers being excluded from college-to-career programs like the G.I. Bill in 1944 to today when Black, brown, and indigenous workers are disproportionately enrolled in WIOA – our nation’s least-resourced workforce development program. To build the robust, inclusive pipeline of trained workers that business and our economy needs, we must adequately resource our workforce system and transform it into one that grants equitable access to skills training to all workers.  

First, cutting programs means fewer workers and particularly fewer workers of color will be able to train for and access jobs. But the House bill makes more insidious policy changes outside of the scope of funding that would hurt women, transgender people, and the LGBT community as well. 

• The House bill proposes reversing the Biden administration’s Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – meaning that it will be harder for the federal government to hire workers of color. This means fewer workers of color will be writing and implementing federal policy, and it will be more difficult to track data to ensure workforce system outcomes are equitable.
• House bill is hurts women workers by cutting funding for the Women’s Bureau at the Department of Labor, which assists women in accessing traditionally male-dominated career paths.  
• The bill would prohibit implementing President Biden’s Executive Order on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Discrimination would prevent transgender people from accessing gender-affirming and life-saving care. Workers need to feel safe in their identities at work in order to succeed.  

Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) addressed this during the markup, saying “Our job is to serve our constituents, yet this proposed bill eliminates sixty-one programs that people rely on, and should not pass out of committee. . .The bill will negatively impact people of color and low-income people. It takes us in the wrong direction.” 

Other Appropriations 

Although there are a dozen appropriations bills that Congress considers, the vast majority of funding for workforce programs falls under the Labor HHS bill which is why this blog primarily focuses on the House and Senate versions of that legislation. However, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs are funded in part through Department of Agriculture appropriations. These programs are critical for low-income families to access food, training, and other essential supports.  

• The WIC program is level-funded in the House bill while the Senate proposes a $300 million increase.  
• The funding levels for SNAP in both the House and Senate fall around $122 billion with the Senate topping the House level by roughly $145 million.  
• SNAP E&T receives a 2% increase over FY23 levels in the House. SNAP E&T can increase postsecondary attainment, address basic needs insecurity, and close opportunity gaps so more workers move into quality jobs and businesses have the workforce they need.  

These investments in the SNAP program, including food benefits, are particularly relevant as Congress returns this fall. The Farm Bill is up for reauthorization – due by September 30th, the same timeline as government funding – and the appropriations proposals from the House evidence a continued underinvestment in what workers who rely on SNAP programming need.  

What’s Next? 

Even with the essentially level funding proposed by the Senate, Congress still needs to hear from workforce advocates that investing in our workforce system is a crucial way to support workers and businesses on the ground.  

There are a few ways advocates can take action during this crucial time: 

• Sign onto our action alert 
• Call your representative, tell your story about how crucial workforce funding is  
• Utilize August recess to invite your member of Congress to your workforce training program to see its importance 
• Stay in touch with National Skills Coalition to stay up to date on latest actions on federal funding 

The post It’s a “NO” for NSC: Proposed House “Labor HHS” Appropriations bill would gut skills training funding appeared first on National Skills Coalition.

Three Days of Advocacy and Influence 

More than 430 people from 36 states came together at the Skills Summit to talk about the current opportunities in Washington to scale and sustain best practices through public policy. Thanks to their on-the-ground expertise, they know the difference between a best practice that helps 20 people build digital resilience in the face of constantly changing workplace technologies – and a sustained, scaled best practice that helps 200,000 people – is public policy. We know the difference between an industry partnership that grows a racially and gender inclusive infrastructure workforce in one community – and industry partnerships driving that change in 1,000 communities – is public policy. And we know that dismantling structural inequality and growing a truly inclusive workforce requires a lot of levers and one of those levers is public policy. 

After two days of content-packed plenaries and dynamic concurrent sessions, attendees joined others from their states to meet with their Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill to advocate for skills training policy. In total, the Skills Summit generated more than 150 hill visits in addition to five meetings with Biden Administration officials from the U.S. Departments of Labor, Commerce, Education, and Agriculture. 

Click here for comprehensive information & content from the 2023 Summit. 

“The Skills Summit helped us keep a finger on the pulse of federal workforce policies while ensuring our congressional delegation hears examples of how these policies impact real, everyday Tennesseans. We walked away with a deeper understanding of how our statewide coalition can be a partner with policymakers in ensuring workforce policies expand individual economic mobility while meeting our state’s workforce needs.”

– Stephanie Coleman, Chief Talent Development Officer, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
and Co-Lead for the TN Business Leaders United (BLU)-SkillSPAN Coalition

 “The summit was very helpful in preparing us for our trip to Capitol Hill, where we made our presentations to the Louisiana Congressional delegation. Hopefully, our collective messages resonated, and legislation that will help the citizens of Louisiana gain employment in high-skill, high-wage, in-demand occupations will be enacted into law.”

– Kathy Weaver, Director, Carl Perkins & Hilton Career Pathways,
Delgado Community College

Robust Content, Expert Speakers 

The opening plenary, Realizing the Promise of Infrastructure Jobs, took a hard look at where we are more than a year after the passage of major infrastructure investments. The panelists- Broderick Johnson, Executive Vice President, Public Policy & Executive Vice President Digital Equity at Comcast; Representative Andy Levin, Distinguished Senior Fellow at Center for American Progress; Stephanie Martinez-Ruckman, Legislative Director for Human Development at the National League of Cities, and Melissa Wells, Special Assistant to the President at North America’s Building Trade Unions assessed whether we’re truly on the way to meeting the equity imperative for these investments laid out by the Biden administration. The plenary also included a look back at conversations NSC’s CEO Andy Van Kleunen had with cabinet secretaries and White House leadership about this imperative over the last year and a look forward with leaders from the stakeholder groups that are essential partners in building an inclusive infrastructure workforce – business, labor, nonprofit, and public sectors. 

Click here for more about NSC’s People-Powered Infrastructure Campaign. 

Nicole Barcliff, Senior Policy Director at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Allison Dembeck. Vice President of Education and Labor Advocacy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Eric Rodriguez, Senior Vice President, Policy and Advocacy at Unidos US all work in Government Affairs roles in their respective organizations and are in routine conversation with members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill. They shared their insider knowledge of the advocacy environment in Washington during the View from Inside the Beltway: Advocating for Inclusive Skills Training plenary. The discussion shared the realities of Congress’ capacity to advance policies this year, the impact of new leadership in the House on setting a Congressional agenda, and whether bipartisanship is even possible in the year before a Presidential election. Attendees also heard remarks from several members of Congress who championed skills training as a bipartisan issue and drove home the importance of our shared advocacy.  

“Attending the Skill Summit is a must. Whether you are a government agency, nonprofit service provider, or advocate, you walk away with substantive knowledge of the current landscape of the various intersections and coordinated efforts that is the ecosystem of workforce development. You gain tools to work and grow and serve your clients and community to make an impact. And you “take it to the Hill,” where you get to use your voice to share critical needs and concerns with our lawmakers. I was so pleased with every aspect of this conference – from the speakers, to the staff, to the access to a network of stellar people – all to improve workforce development.”

– Guadalupe A. Velasquez, Managing Director,
Welcoming City / US Together Inc.  

A plenary moderated by Paul Fain, journalist at The Job (a newsletter about connections between education and the American workforce) aimed to highlight what states have done to make quality postsecondary credentials affordable and how to advocate for similar changes at the federal level. The panel featured Indivar Dutta-Gupta, President & Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Policy; Dr. Anne Kress, President of Northern Virginia Community College; Jennifer Stiddard, Senior Fellow at National Skills Coalition and Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, President of Montgomery College. Panelists uplifted adult learners, situating them at the forefront of discussions on how to improve our postsecondary education and training policy.

Click here for more information about NSC’s Making College Work Campaign. 

Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers joined the mainstage plenary to talk about her perspective on the fight for Good Jobs and why public investments in education and training matter for working people and students. The conversation with NSC Chief Strategy Officer, Brooke DeRenzis focused on Career and Technical Education. Weingarten spoke about the takeaways she took with her from her time teaching that are still true today: partnerships are key, people need access to training, and those costs should not fall to students alone. 

Weingarten kicked off the plenary entitled Skills Training in the Fight for Good Jobs and an Inclusive Economy.  She was followed by a panel that brought together people from the workforce development field with people who work in the economic and racial justice space: Tameshia Bridges Mansfield, Vice President, Workforce and Regional Economies at Jobs for the Future; Angela Hanks, Chief of Programs, at Demos; and Abby Snay, Deputy Secretary for the Future of Work at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

Angela Hanks issued a call-to-action – imploring skills training organizations, worker rights organizations, unions, and community organizations to partner to make the most of implementation saying, “These organizations need each other. There’s money for workforce development, but there’s no guarantee that the jobs created with this funding will be good jobs. That is a task for everyone in this room – and the way that we do that is through partnerships.” She urged advocates to hold public officials accountable for how they disperse funds and to work to ensure that jobs created are good jobs – and that communities of color, women, and others can benefit from investments. “This does not feel optional,” she said.  

“This is a huge opportunity to make this unprecedented level of investment actually move the needle for communities of color and for people who have been historically marginalized. We must come together.”  

 “Attending the Skills Summit 2023 for the first time was a unique opportunity to engage with other professionals in the field and to learn about the latest bills and innovations in workforce development. I was particularly impressed by the diversity of perspectives and experiences represented at the Summit and the depth of knowledge and expertise of the speakers (especially Jennifer Stiddard of NSC). I left the Summit with a renewed sense of energy and purpose in my work. I feel empowered by the experience of advocating at the Capitol. The experience of advocating for this issue has not only deepened my understanding of the challenges we face to truly help our nation thrive but also strengthened my commitment to working toward solutions that promote workforce development and social equity.” 

– Chuchay Stark, Coordinator,
Saratoga County Department of Workforce Development 

The Summit Featured video stories from two working students. Khaija Faulk from New Orleans, Louisiana who graduated from the New Orleans Career Center trained for a credential that led to a job as a healthcare support instructor – a job that allows her support herself while she goes to nursing school. Attendees also heard from Miguel Hernandez from Fresno, California who by attending coding classes at Bitwise Industries, earned a certificate that helped him land a job doing email marketing.  

Click here to hear the video greetings from Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), Congresswoman Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-DE) and Senator Tammy Baldwin. 

“When I began my journey in digital equity, I did not immediately realize the complexity of the digital divide. I thought my job was to connect people with devices and affordable broadband. I remember being pointed to NSC, and meeting Amanda Bergson-Shilcock and seeing what an amazing resource was available for me. My Goodwill colleagues and I were immersed in the national work of the importance of digital skills and heard from other leaders and connected with practitioners as we all are stewards of our generations new “New Deal.” I feel energized to bring back the knowledge to continue to bridge the digital divide in Washington State.” 

– Nancy Chang, Director of Digital Navigation Services,
Goodwill of the Olympics and Ranier Region 

On the third day of the Summit, as most attendees were paying advocacy visits to their Senators and Representatives, NSC hosted a Digital Skills at Work legislative briefing on Capitol Hill to highlight for Congressional staff, workforce advocates, and members of the press the importance of creating opportunities for workers to advance their digital skills on the job, and when they lose their job.

The briefing featured remarks from Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), who previewed new legislation he is working on in partnership with NSC that would amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to provide key digital skills training opportunities for workers and students.

Robert Guzman, Chief of External Affairs of ScaleLit (formerly Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition); Constance Green, State Coordinator for WIOA Adult & Dislocated Worker Programs at Virginia’s Community Colleges System; and Marisol Tapia Hopper, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Funding, Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (and WA SkillSPAN lead) provided remarks via a panel moderated by NSC Government Affairs staff member Caroline Treschitta, for why the communities they serve need access to digital skills training to improve local and state economies, and get workers into good career paths.

Dr. Alma Salazar Bridge Builder Award 

Bishara Addison, Director of Job Preparation at the Fund for Our Economic Future, was named as the 2023 recipient of the Dr. Alma Salazar Bridge Builder Award. The award is given to a member of NSC’s network who exemplifies Dr. Salazar’s commitment to bringing together uncommon allies in support of inclusive skills policy.  

​​During 2022, Bishara exemplified the spirit of the Dr. Alma Salazar award, by bringing together a diverse group of partners, including economic developers, employers, education and training providers, and researchers to drive forward an equitable workforce.  

“Dr. Alma Salazar demonstrated the value of relationships in driving systems change,” Addison said. “What an incredible honor it is to receive an award from an organization that brings together the brightest minds and fiercest advocates across sectors to ensue policies at the federal and state level that promote pathways for economic and social mobility for all.  Dr. Alma Salazar was known for being a warrior for those that don’t always have a voice, a collaborator, an ecosystem translator, and as the name of this award states – a bridge builder. As I continue in my career as an advocate for systems change — so that individual outcomes are no longer determined by race or place — I hope that I’m held accountable for embodying the beautiful spirit of Dr. Alma Salazar and inspire others to continue her work.” 

“As individual leaders, we may have an impact regionally, yet as NSC members advocating for workforce skills training and education, we can collaborate on a larger scale to inform and influence the decisions made in Washington. NSC provides the space for us to learn from each other about best practices and advocacy strategies supporting workforce skill training driving economic prosperity for workers and businesses.” 

– Noemí Custodia-Lora, Ph.D. Vice President of Lawrence Campus & Community Relations,
Northern Essex Community College  

Check out photos of the event on our Flickr Page.  

Some of our favorite tweets from the event are below – you can follow the rest of the conversation on twitter here #NSCSummit2023. 

The post Equity on the Agenda: Growing a truly inclusive workforce at the 2023 Skills Summit appeared first on National Skills Coalition.

Investing in people means training a diverse, multi-generational workforce to power our infrastructure over the next decade and beyond. It intentionally opens the doors to millions of workers who want a new career in infrastructure, particularly workers of color, women, and immigrants. These workers have long been underrepresented in quality careers in infrastructure fields and were also disproportionately working in in industries impacted by the COVID-19 recession   

Employers in the infrastructure sector have been looking for ways to broaden their talent pipeline, as they experience the challenge of an aging, retiring workforce. The federal infrastructure investments have only heightened the demand for trained workers. And the success of planned infrastructure projects hinges on a new generation of workers having access to the education, skills training, and economic supports they need to access good jobs and careers in this booming sector.  

That’s why, since these bills were first being debated in Congress, National Skills Coalition’s People Powered Infrastructure Campaign has been asking local, state, and federal policymakers to:
 

• Expand equitable access to skills training offered through registered apprenticeship programs and workforce programs at community and technical colleges so that more people of color, women, and young people can access new jobs in the infrastructure field.  
• Invest in industry partnerships in the infrastructure field and support their capacity to engage in equity-advancing practices. Industry partnerships have the potential to expand access to quality infrastructure careers for women, people of color and others who, historically, have not had access to these careers. Since industry partnerships intentionally broker training, hiring, and advancement opportunities between workers and employers within a particular sector, they can be used to disrupt occupational segregation if they are equity focused.  
• Provide economic supports to make skills training and career transitions possible. Economic supports can fill resource gaps caused by structural racial and gender inequities and exacerbated by pandemic-related job loss. For instance, investments in affordable, accessible, high-quality childcare will be essential if we want women to be part of the 21st century infrastructure workforce. These economic supports are particularly important for workers who are entering an apprenticeship or a first job in the field and have not yet realized the full earnings potential of an infrastructure career. 

• Incentivize and support training, hiring, and career advancement of local residents. The IIJA is intended to invest in local communities – including those that have been under-resourced – so that everyone has access to rails and roads, clean water, high-speed internet, clean energy, and climate resilient infrastructure. We can bring even more benefit to local communities by incentivizing training, hiring, and career advancement of people who live in the communities where infrastructure projects are takin place for newly created infrastructure jobs. 
• Collect data and report on jobs outcomes of federal infrastructure spending with attention to race, gender, and geography. Collecting data allows us to track the progress of efforts toward building an inclusive infrastructure workforce, federal agencies can mandate data collection on who is trained and hired through federal infrastructure spending, disaggregated by race/ethnicity, gender, geography, and other factors. When we have good data, we can use it to hold our policymakers accountable to an equitable infrastructure workforce. 

What’s happening with these laws now? 

The infrastructure law is currently in the second year of a five-year funding process. The law includes significant investments in physical infrastructure, expands the ways in which funding can be used for workforce development, prioritizes access to good infrastructure jobs for women, people of color, immigrants, and other populations in the infrastructure workforce, and makes hiring from local communities easier.  

Similarly, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) makes investments in and provides tax credits for clean energy infrastructure including encouraging spending on related workforce and training initiatives. The IRA also includes incentives for private companies to use registered apprentices and pay a prevailing wage. The IRA was signed into law in August of 2022 which means that many programs created and amended by the law are still being rolled out.  

Much of the funding available under both the bipartisan Infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act is subject to the Biden Administration’s Justice 40 Initiative. Justice 40 is intended to ensure that 40% of federal investments in climate change and clean energy flow to what they describe as “disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.”  

Both the infrastructure law and the IRA include provisions that align closely with NSC goals. With the laws in place, most of our coalition’s focus this year will be on implementation by federal agencies and work at the state and local level where the money will be spent.  

The administration has done a good job of ensuring that workforce is embedded in grant opportunities by prioritizing applications that include plans to provide training and economic supports and create opportunities for women, people of color, immigrants and other populations that historically haven’t had to access infrastructure jobs. Unfortunately, many state and local agencies that will receive federal infrastructure funds, (for example, transportation and public works agencies) do not have expertise in or strong connections to workforce development partners. This makes it all the more important for state and local workforce and community leaders to be at the table, informing infrastructure plans.  

That’s why NSC is working with federal agency staff to push for resources and tools that can drive partnerships between workforce leaders and state and local agencies. For example, last year, NSC partnered with the Federal Highway Administration on a webinar highlighting workforce partners in the transportation infrastructure space, and we continue to work with federal agencies on initiatives that will lift up models for success.  

We know that more can be done to help develop these connections on the ground – so NSC and BLU will continue to work in partnership with our state coalition partners to facilitate the connections needed for state-based organizations and agencies to fully leverage the opportunities within the infrastructure law.  

 Outlook in the States 

This year, many SkillSPAN coalitions and BLU state affiliates will work to influence how states implement and spend infrastructure investments on the state level. This may include:  

• Expanding state apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs,   
• Allocating federal infrastructure or pre-existing state or federal funds to invest in industry partnerships in infrastructure fields,   
• Changing existing state policy levers to expand access to economic supports like childcare and transportation so that more residents can train for infrastructure careers,  
• Building incentivizes for training and hiring of local residents into state project procurement processes, and/or  
• Funding and developing systems that collect and report data disaggregated by race, gender or geography on the jobs created by federal infrastructure spending  

NSC will support these efforts with a playbook designed to help develop new connections between state workforce advocates and the state agencies tasked with implementing the laws so that state agencies can draw on the workforce development expertise of our coalition, and so workforce advocates can shape state infrastructure investments and plans to include training.  

One example of a SkillSPAN coalition already primed to influence the implementation of federal infrastructure investments at the state level is Wisconsin SkillSPAN led by WRTP/BIG STEP. SkillSPAN members in Wisconsin were tapped by the Governor’s office to serve as advocates for federal infrastructure funds that support apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. Vice President Kamala Harris also visited WRTP/BIG STEP to tour the skills training facility and discuss the importance of direct use of federal workforce funds to support large-scale community-based infrastructure projects. WRTP/BIG STEP recently hosted a discussion on preparing WI’s workforce for clean energy economy and good environmental infrastructure jobs, including through pre-apprenticeship and other efforts to diversify the apprenticeship pipeline. 

Outlook in Congress 

Skills advocates and business leaders may have to play defense this year with Congress when it comes to funding workforce priorities, including some related to infrastructure. Some members of Congress are looking to cut budgets for non-defense related programs. Unfortunately, that may include a few workforce-related programs included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that were authorized but not funded. These programs combined are in the tens of millions of dollars compared to the billions that were funded when the bill was signed into law.  

More significantly, annual funding for workforce programs, economic supports, and career and technical education may also face cuts. Advocates know that the workforce system is already unable to keep up with worker and business need and still significantly trails funding levels from 2001 even before adjusting for inflation. Any cuts to these programs would impede bipartisan efforts to build a more diverse infrastructure workforce which is why skills advocates’ voices are more important than ever.  

While the roughly $1 trillion infrastructure law includes many opportunities for workforce programs, the legislation lacks dedicated funding for industry and sector partnerships. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is due to be reauthorized during the 118th Congress. That will be an opportunity to call for a dedicated program to support industry and sector partnerships that intentionally work to advance equity – rather than pulling resources from an already underfunded workforce system. And while all industry and sector partnerships would be included in this program, it would certainly benefit infrastructure partnerships. NSC expects to share our recommendations around WIOA reauthorization later this year, and we’ll be calling upon our network – workforce advocates and business leaders – to lend voices and case examples to help federal policymakers understand the importance of sector partnerships to provide inclusive, accessible, industry-specific training. 

Our coalition will have the opportunity to impact upcoming legislation and implementation of infrastructure legislation at the 2023 Skills Summit. Register for the Summit to learn more about upcoming skills legislation and share your expertise with federal policymakers and their staff.  

And, if you haven’t joined our People Powered Infrastructure Campaign yet – sign our petition today and stay tuned for opportunities to shape investments in local, state, and federal skills training policy that will build an inclusive infrastructure workforce.  

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Throughout programs – including those focused on industry or sector partnerships, apprenticeship, transportation and energy workforces implicated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and pairing skills with economic development – the administration continues to focus on outreach to communities of color. Building on the Biden Administration’s 2020 Executive Order on Addressing Racial Equity, those efforts include agency reporting on efforts to address racial equity as well as targeting and prioritizing of programs to benefit underserved and underrepresented populations.

The overall budget totals nearly $7 trillion dollars and includes proposals to expand access to childcare and preschool, establish 12 weeks of national paid family and medical leave, and make Affordable Care Act Subsidy enhancements permanent. 

It is important to note that this request will not be enacted, it serves as a marker for what the president would like to see from Congress. There is no obligation from the legislative branch to move the contents of the budget forward.  

The president’s budget request kicks off the appropriations process for both chambers of Congress. That process will not be smooth this year, though. Congressional Republicans have expressed a desire to roll non-defense government spending back to FY22 levels. Democrats are largely unified in opposing cuts. Federal workforce programs are not an area that can afford to see cuts. Over the past 20 years, these programs have been consistently underfunded making it more difficult for workers to access training and employers to reach qualified job seekers. 

Industry or Sector Partnership programs are big winners in Department of Labor budget 

The administration’s budget for the Department of Labor (DOL) largely includes modest increases above 2023 enacted levels for critical workforce programs. The proposed 2024 levels are also generally consistent with the President’s request for FY23. While the proposed budget may not be as bold as skills advocates hoped, it does reflect support from the President for skills.  In a year when split control of Congress may lead to non-defense spending cuts, the administration making this a priority item in appropriations negotiations would be a significant boon to the programs. 

The proposed DOL budget invests in partnerships as a proven method to train workers- including $200 million for the Sectoral Employment through Career Training for Occupational Readiness (SECTOR) program. This new proposal echoes NSC’s calls for Congress to invest in industry and sector partnerships by bringing employers, training providers and other partners together to design and implement training programs that create access to in-demand, good jobs. In the same vein, the budget request also calls for an additional $35 million over 2023 enacted levels for the Strengthening Community College Training Grants program to help community colleges partner with employers and the workforce system. Both programs are intended to prioritize underrepresented populations gain access to high-quality training programs that lead to good jobs. 

DOL’s budget request proposes a 3% overall increase for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I State Formula Grants for a total increase of roughly $90 million. This figure includes increases of $14.3 million for Adult, $59.7 million for Dislocated Worker, and $15.7 for Youth programs under WIOA. Even with a total proposed budget of just over $3 billion, the budget for title I programs falls nearly one billion dollars short of funding in 2001 before adjusting for inflation. This is a clear reflection of our country’s underinvestment in the workforce development system which has contributed to the current situation: workers aren’t able to = access training for the jobs that employers are offering.  

Another WIOA formula grant program, Employment Service (Wagner-Peyser) receives a modest 3% percent bump for a total of roughly $700 million. Employment Service formula grants provide funds to states to operate public employment offices nationwide and offer career services, job search assistance, referrals to employment and other services.

There is also a call for an additional $50 million to support apprenticeships for a total of $335 million. This is reflective of the Biden Administration’s commitment to registered apprenticeship and organized labor.

NSC regularly calls for additional resources to track earning and employment outcomes to ensure that workforce programs are having their intended impact and serving communities of color, women, and other underrepresented workers. The President’s Budget nearly doubles the budget for the Workforce Data Quality Initiative to $11 million to help improve the data that is captured in order to improve program performance.

There is a significant proposed increase in the Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) program which is budgeted at $170 million representing a 48% increase above current funding levels. The REO program provides workforce development opportunities to justice-impacted individuals and reflects the Biden Administration’s efforts to ensure that federal investments support underrepresented populations.

Free community college proposal stands out in ED’s budget 

The administration included a number of new proposals and funding increases for the Department of Education’s (ED’s). Notably, the plan includes $90 billion over 10 years to support free community college. This would be a first dollar program (meaning that it would supplement and not supplant other student aid, such as Pell Grants) and provide free community college to first-time students and returning adults. It would operate as a federal-state partnership, and students could access assistance for up to three years (with the flexibility of up to four years under certain circumstances). The administration proposes using mandatory funding, so this would fall outside of the typical appropriations process. We’ve seen similar proposals from the administration, including within the American Families Plan, which was released in 2021.

The proposal for a $90 billion new investment that does not have to go through appropriations approval each year will face significant obstacles in passing Congress. Interestingly, the administration seems to recognize and address this challenge by also proposing a complementary program – $500 million in discretionary funding for a program called Accelerated Success: Free Community College. This program would provide grants to community colleges, consortia of community colleges, or state systems of community colleges to support tuition free programs that (1) fully articulate and provide guaranteed credit transfer to state four-year baccalaureate institutions or (2) offer high-quality credit bearing career programs for in-demand industries that meet benchmarks for wages and employment. A portion of each grant may also be used for program development, data collection, and evaluation.

The administration also calls for an $820 increase to the maximum Pell Grant award, which would bring the total to $8,215 for award year 2024-25 if passed into law. While this amount may exceed the average tuition and fees for community college students, it still falls far short of average total cost of attendance which exceeds $19,000 for full-time students. Increasing the Pell Grant maximum promotes debt-free pathways and makes college work for more students and workers. The budget also calls for greater access to financial aid for Dreamers. The budget request is silent on the expansion of Pell Grant eligibility to high-quality shorter-term education and training programs. This is a top priority for NSC and its networks.

Other notable increases and new proposals include a $43 million increase for Perkins Career Technical and Education (CTE) state grants, a $20 million increase to the Child Care Access Means Parents In School program, and a $120 million increase for the Postsecondary Student Success Grant program, which provides grants to support institutional level retention and completion reforms. Adult Basic Education state grants are level funded under the budget. New programs include $30 million for a Systemwide Holistic Student Supports program that would provide grants to help students access federal and local benefits beyond financial aid, such as food and housing assistance. There is also a proposal for a $150 million program to support campus-based mental health services for postsecondary students.

Department of Commerce doubles down on partnerships  

The Biden Administration has leveraged the Department of Commerce to further workforce development priorities. Commerce has administered grants for industry sector partnerships, funding for digital skill building, and created job quality principles in collaboration with DOL and the Department of Education – in which NSC partners weighed in heavily. 

Many in NSC’s network applied to Good Jobs Challenge grants in 2022, and our state SkillSPAN lead in Iowa, the United Way of Central Iowa, and Business Leaders United partner South Charleston Chamber of Commerce received grants to scale up, diversify, and expand their partnership with training providers for their health care systems. NSC is excited to see that the President requested another round of funding for these important programs. If awarded, grantees can use the funds to scale up industry or sector partnerships or address other workforce equity needs. 

In 2023, Good Jobs Challenge grants received $500M in funding. This year, the President requested $100M. This could be because the President is diverting less permanent funding streams (competitive grants) into more consistent funding streams, such as through his proposed SECTOR program detailed earlier.  

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) received a proposed $102 million increase (total of $277 million over the 2023 enacted level). MEP equips small and medium-sized manufacturers with resources to develop a skilled and diverse workforce. Congress should pass MEP funding in line with the President’s request. 

Commerce also administers grants for digital skill building, most recently through the Digital Equity Act. All states and territories have received their planning grant funds and are in the process of creating Digital Equity State Plans which include digital skill building components. There are no new proposals for funding digital skill building in the proposed budget. There is funding to National Telecommunications Information Administration to conduct oversight over of Digital Equity Act Grants  

As a result, NSC continues to advocate for legislation that creates upskilling for workers on the job and reskilling grants for workers who have lost their job to train for in-demand digital skills. In the budget, President Biden outlines his commitment to support a WIOA reauthorization. Leaders at DOL should consider this key component of digital skills a must-have in any WIOA reauthorization. 

Finally, the President requested $200 million for the Recompete Pilot Program to provide grants to distressed communities and connect workers to good jobs that support long-term comprehensive economic development (100M increase from omni FY23).

Departments of Transportation and Energy include small programs dedicated to training 

The bulk of funding for workforce under the Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Energy (DOE) is embedded into formula grants, competitive grants and other programs as a possible use of funds though not the primary objective of the funding source. However, there are a few programs in the President’s Budget worth mentioning where workforce and related activities are at the core of the program. 

The President’s Budget includes small increases for a few existing programs administered by DOT administrations and bureaus. Under the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the budget proposes $25.5 million to support the Training and Education program. T&E supports several programs that train the transportation workforce including the National Highway Institute, Local and Tribal Technical Assistance programs, education and academic programs, the Transportation Education and Training Development and Deployment Program, and the Transportation Centers of Excellence. Under the Federal Transit Administration the budget proposes $8 million Transit Technical Assistance and Training program to increase the capacity of states and local transit agencies to attract and retain workforce talent and $12.4 million for the Transit Technical Assistance and Workforce Development program p which  provides technical assistance to public transportation agencies, funds National Transit Institute activities, and supports training and outreach to underrepresented populations.   

Moving into DOE programs, the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), sees a $49 million increase above FY23. The justification for the increase is to allow for the retrofitting of additional low-income homes with energy improvements like insulation, duct sealing, heating and cooling systems, air filtration, hot water and electric base load reduction and to train contractors to perform this work. 

The Local Government Energy Program under DOE’s State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) would receive $65 million to support deployment of clean energy programs. In the current funding year, the program received $12 million dollars so the President’s budget would quintuple funding for that program. The Local Government Energy program’s budget is expanded by the administration in order to support workforce development and training in clean energy roles within the local community. Funding for this program would help meet one of NSC’s priorities for infrastructure implementation -making sure that programs support local hire. 

Department of Agriculture continues investments for SNAP E&T 

The budget proposal for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) matching program sees a $13.5 million increase over FY23 estimates for a total of $550 million which 100% federal funds remains flat at $124 million. SNAP E&T is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program helps people receiving SNAP simultaneously gain access to training and supportive services to enter into the workforce or advance in their careers. 

The Farm Bill was last updated in 2018 and is again on the table this session. Given tight margins in both chambers, massive changes to the program seem unlikely. SNAP E&T and other work programs, however, are likely to feature significantly throughout negotiations for the reauthorization. 

Department of Health and Human Services creates new health care workforce program 

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget includes a new $27 million Health Care Workforce Innovation program designed to grow the health care workforce by funding new, leading edge health profession education and training models that will expand the supply of health care professionals in underserved and rural areas. This is a competitive grant that will fund innovative models, including expanding career pathways for paraprofessionals. 

What’s Next? 

While the budget request is only a proposal it’s the starting point for the annual appropriations process. Members of Congress and their staff expect to hear from stakeholders about items in the budget proposal, and what items are most important for their constituents.  

The process originates in the House, and appropriators will hold hearings over the next couple of months with agency leads to dig into the priorities the administration set out.

Our upcoming annual Skills Summit is one of the best ways that our network can learn more about these upcoming legislative opportunities as well as connect with Congressional offices. Join us in Washington, D.C. May 1-3.

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