Tell U.S. Lawmakers To Invest In Workforce and Education Programs Now Or In The New Year

As the 117th Congress comes to a close, the National Skills Coalition asked federal lawmakers to approve a full-year spending bill that included significant investments in workforce and education programs in order to meet the needs of both workers and businesses. While the omnibus spending bill revealed this week included some of the priorities outlined below, it did not include all of them.

That is unfortunate since, as MSCI members are well aware, industrial metals companies are facing worker shortages due to retirements and an insufficient pipeline of workers with the skills necessary to fill existing and future needs. Overall in the U.S. economy, there are twice the number of open jobs in the country than there are unemployed workers. Because of this fact, too many businesses cannot grow, compete, and thrive.

As Congress heads into a new session, U.S. lawmakers must ensure that workforce and education programs have the resources necessary to address these anticipated economic challenges and shifts by:

• Increasing funding for workforce and education programs. Federal investment in workforce programs has decreased significantly over the past 20 years, leaving many workers behind and businesses without skilled talent. Investing in programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act can help strengthen our economy.
• Investing in sector partnerships. An industry or sector partnership brings together training providers and businesses to create skills training programs that meet worker and business need. Despite being a proven strategy for workforce development, there is currently no dedicated funding for these key partnerships. Congress should use the 2023 spending bill as an opportunity to create a funding authorization for sector partnerships.
• Modernizing the National Apprenticeship Act. There is an urgent need to modernize the United States’ national apprenticeship system and expand equitable access to apprenticeship and work-based learning for all workers. A bill called the National Apprenticeship Act would support these goals by investing in pre-apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, and youth apprenticeships, expanding these critical opportunities to more workers in more industries. Congress should ensure that the National Apprenticeship Act is included in the fiscal year 2023 spending bill.

The omnibus spending bill includes $285 million, an increase of $50 million or 21 percent, for the Registered Apprenticeship program to expand apprenticeship opportunities, including in traditionally underrepresented fields, but it does not include the other priorities noted above.

If you are interested in supporting these priorities now or in the new Congress, which convenes in January, please click here.