The state House of Representatives recently advanced the last of a nine-part package of legislation as part of the #GoodJobs4PA initiative, which aims to prepare Pennsylvanians to meet workforce needs.
“The bills provide a variety of incentives for high schools and businesses to encourage and educate students and parents as to the benefits of career and technical education (CTE),” state Rep. Mike Jones (R-York Township) said. “It is by far the biggest challenge we face relative to sustaining our economy. This is not just about jobs for kids. In York County, 20 percent of the jobs are in manufacturing, which is double the state average. If we don’t have people to fill those jobs, companies will not locate or stay here, and that hurts everyone.”
The bills would, among other things, provide tax credits to businesses that contribute to CTE partnership organizations, require the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to develop materials outlining workforce needs, requires PDE and the departments of Labor and Industry and Agriculture to develop and maintain an online career resource center, requires each local Workforce Development Board (WDB) to include in its membership at least one administrator of a Career and Technical Center.
“I am pleased to see the priority our Republican leadership has placed on CTE,” Jones said. “With that said, these bills enjoy broad bipartisan support, so hopefully there will be few obstacles standing in the way of them becoming law.”
The bills now head to the Senate for consideration.