The president touted successful bipartisan efforts to pass bills that promise to lead to the creation of many new jobs, including the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science (CHIPS) Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He also highlighted investments in clean energy initiatives through the Inflation Reduction Act that are also associated with prospects for significant job creation.
However, it’s unclear whether these efforts will yield inclusive economic growth and new career opportunities for all Americans. A lot depends on how these programs are implemented and whether Congress will approve new investments in skills development initiatives.
The challenge of building a workforce with the skills needed for new jobs is exacerbated by the fact the U.S. labor market is already tight. The durable goods manufacturing industry, for instance, only had 50% of the workers required to fill open jobs before these new laws were enacted—and according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, that means that “even if every unemployed person with experience in the durable goods manufacturing industry were employed, the industry would fill [only] roughly a third of the vacant jobs.”
The country needs a broader skills development infrastructure to fill the new jobs and ensure that people who have not had access to high-quality career opportunities in the past will have that access in the future. And people who are learning new skills and moving into new fields need access to career navigation tools and resources so that they can identify opportunities they may not have been aware of in the past.
A Need for More Pathways to Careers
It’s clear that President Biden is aware of the need for education and training to build a skilled workforce. We were happy to hear that he’s continuing to emphasize the need to make education an affordable ticket to the middle class. We strongly support his efforts to reduce student debt, increase Pell grants, connect students to career opportunities starting in high school and provide two years of community college to all Americans.
We also welcome the fact that he acknowledged that multiple pathways are needed to good careers when he said, “Let’s offer every American a path to a good career, whether they go to college or not.”
JFF shares Biden’s commitment to expanding pathways to good jobs for people who don’t have a college degree. And we believe that the U.S. workforce system is well positioned to build those pathways, but it currently lacks the resources to do so equitably and effectively. The country needs significant increases in workforce development funding that extend beyond current federal student aid programs, including funding for high-quality short-term training programs that offer stackable credentials, expanded career navigation services, and programs offering wraparound supports that offer learners assistance with essentials like transportation, housing, and child care so those who are juggling multiple responsibilities can focus on school or training.
