U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) recently introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would help meet 21st-century workforce demands.
The USA Workforce Tax Credit Act would set a tax credit cap of $2 billion, beginning this tax year. Half of the credit would be used for educational preparedness scholarships for K-12 students, while the other half would be used for job preparation initiatives.
Job preparation initiatives include workforce development, career, and technical education, and community-based apprenticeship initiatives.
Eligible nonprofits include community colleges, scholarship groups, training institutes, educational institutions, community organizations, and labor union-affiliated nonprofits.
“The latest report of a record 9.2 million jobs available nationwide reflects what I have heard from small businesses across Lancaster and York counties,” Smucker said. “Employers simply cannot find enough skilled workers to meet their demand. I saw the skills gap firsthand as a small business owner. This legislation will help invest in critical workforce development and apprenticeship programs to help ensure that workers are ready for the jobs available today.”
In May, there were 9.2 million job openings nationwide, according to the Department of Labor. This included 1.4 million positions in leisure and hospitality and 1.5 million in health care and social assistance.