calls for greater and more effective federal investments in our nation’s skills, so more U.S. businesses can find the skilled workers they need to compete globally, and so all U.S. workers can share in and contribute to our country’s economic prosperity.
unemployed U.S. workers as of February 2013
U.S. adults lack basic literacy skills
of U.S. employers report being unable to fill current openings due to skills gaps
increase in Workforce Investment Act Title I participation since 2009
of job openings in 2008-2018 require postsecondary education
On September 5, nearly 600 individuals and 40 national organizations tuned in to a CIAW sponsored a webinar, Washington Update: Making the Federal Case For Workforce Development, to discuss the budgetary and political situation threatening workforce development programs. National policy experts John Colbert from Capital Hill Partners, LLC, and Rachel Gragg from the National Skills Coalition joined to:
For those who missed the webinar or would like to access the information again, please view the webinar recording and take a look at the PowerPoints used by John Colbert and Rachel Gragg during their presentations.
Join CIAW for “Workforce Wednesdays” each Wednesday in August!
Workforce development programs are an important part of the nation’s economic recovery and job creation effort, yet our nation’s investments in the skills of its people are at risk. Non-defense discretionary programs—including education and workforce programs—face at least $55 billion in funding cuts as of January 2013 due to the Budget Control Act, and efforts to protect funding for defense programs could double the size of these cuts. Key policymakers have even proposed eliminating dozens of federal workforce programs. It is critically important that we help policymakers understand why investments in workforce development programs are important and how these investments impact their local communities.
Participate in Workforce Wednesdays by taking action—it can be as simple as calling your Senators or Representative or, even better, arranging a site visit with program participants (jobseekers or employers)—but just take action on one or more Wednesdays during the month of August. Stand united with CIAW in support of adequate funding for adult education and workforce training programs! Read the rest of this entry »
Each year, the House and Senate Budget Committees pass a “budget resolution” that establishes the broad spending levels and priorities for Congress for that year. Much like last year, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) has proposed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 budget resolution that appears to nearly eliminate funding for federal job training programs and calls for deep cuts to Pell Grants for low-income students—cutting funding for education, training and social service programs by more than $16 billion, a 22 percent decrease from FY 2012. At a time when thirteen million Americans remain unemployed and employers struggle to fill job openings due to an inadequately skilled workforce, now is not the time to cut the programs that enable workers to gain the skills and education required to meet industry needs. CIAW urged House Members to oppose the Ryan budget resolution and instead ensure that we maintain meaningful investments in the skills of America’s workforce.
Each year, the House and Senate appropriations committees establish “302(b) allocations” that set overall funding levels for each of the twelve regular appropriations bills. CIAW joined with the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) and the Coalition on Health Funding (CHF) on this letter urging appropriators to adopt the highest possible 302(b) allocations for the FY 2013 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. More than 900 national, state, and local organizations signed on to the letter.