Senate advances workforce development initiative

The state Senate recently passed Senate Bill 168, legislation establishing a workforce development initiative.

Under the bill, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry would be required to research the job market’s future needs. The department would share its work with state agencies that provide training.

Employment data on current and projected needs would include training and experience required for positions and geographical location.

The department will coordinate with the Departments of Agriculture, Community and Economic Development, Corrections, and Education to inform schools and re-entry programs about current and emerging industry clusters and high-priority occupations.

The goal is to better prepare students for the workforce by predicting what employers want when the students enter the job market.

“The more we know, the better decisions we can make,” Sen. Vincent Hughes (D- Montgomery/ Philadelphia), who wrote the bill, said. “For too long, our research and reporting has been focused on what has happened in the job market instead of what’s going to happen. By focusing on the future, we can help those educating the workforce better predict what they will need to know.”

The bill moves back to the House for a concurrence vote.