State Sen. John Yudichak (I-Luzerne/Carbon) recently sent a memorandum to fellow senators seeking cosponsors for legislation that would expand postsecondary training access by up to two years.
The Pennsylvania Skills Compact would also cover additional tuition and mandatory fees after all the federal and state grants available to students are exhausted.
Under the program, students could enroll at any eligible institution in the state offering two-year degrees.
The program’s goal is to help displaced and new workers. According to a Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce survey, 22 percent of statewide employers listed a shortage of qualified applicants as their top problem.
“The PA Skills Compact is an educational and economic investment that will help expedite Pennsylvania’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis,” Yudichak said in October. “By providing more people access to postsecondary education, we will be able to support our institutions of higher education, fill jobs, and create more economic development opportunities for our communities.”
Up to 42 percent of layoffs due to COVID-19 could become permanent, according to industry estimates.
According to an Upjohn Institute for Employment Research analysis in August, the program would cost no more than $84 million during the first year. It would increase student enrollment by approximately 20 percent.