Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Deputy Secretary Eileen Cipriani highlighted Gov. Tom Wolf’s PAsmart proposal during a visit to the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County (CTCLC) in Scranton, followed by a tour of one of the school’s co-op programs at Gibbons Ford in Dickson City.
“Investing in career and technical education at schools like the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County ensures that our workers and students get the real-world skills they need for in-demand, 21st century jobs,” Cipriani said. “It is our goal that by 2025, 60 percent of Pennsylvanians will have some form of postsecondary education and training. Governor Wolf has proposed historic new investments to improve access for Pennsylvania students and workers to education, training, and career readiness programs.”
As employers continue to expand throughout Pennsylvania, Wolf has made education and job training a top priority for his administration. His PAsmart proposal, introduced in the 2018-2019 budget, seeks to invest $50 million for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and computer science education as well as hands-on training experiences and opportunities through technical education programs. Through supported mentorship and coordination, PAsmart also encourages students and employers to develop working skill sets.
“In our mission to strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce through proposals like PAsmart, CTCLC and all of the other CTCs across the commonwealth play a crucial role in providing the employee skills that businesses need to grow and thrive,” Cipriani said. “Properly training our workforce means better jobs for our workers, improved growth in the business sector, and a stronger Pennsylvania.”
The CTCLC offers 23 career and technical education programs that provides students with the skills and knowledge needed for post-secondary education and/or entry level industry requirements.