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A bipartisan group of House members introduced House Resolution 1453

Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Glenn (GT) Thompson (R-PA), and Lucy McBath (D-GA), introduced the resolution which recognizes the vital role of workforce development in supporting jobseekers, businesses, and local economies. The resolution designates September 2024 as National Workforce Development Month.

Brad Turner-Little, President and CEO of NAWB stated,

“We are thrilled to see a bipartisan group of members of Congress taking action to recognize the vital economic role of workforce development… It is heartening to see the collaboration, often led by workforce development boards, receive this kind of recognition from Congress.”

 

The resolution specifically highlights that collaboration among multiple stakeholders—including state and local governments, workforce development boards, governors, state and local education and human services agencies, community colleges, local businesses, employment service providers, and community-based organizations—is essential for long-term, sustainable, and successful workforce development across traditional sectors and emerging industries.

The resolution also stresses the critical need for increased investment in workforce development, noting the following statistics:

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in July 2024 that there are approximately 8.2 million unfilled jobs in the U.S., which negatively impacts corporate productivity, reduces the local tax base, and hinders global competitiveness.
• 76% of business leaders say that greater support for skills development would help their businesses.
• As of August 2024, in the U.S., there are:
  • 7.1 million unemployed individuals.
  • Unemployment rates for Black and Hispanic adults are significantly higher than for White adults.
  • Workers without postsecondary education and skills development are more likely to be unemployed.
• The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) supports employment, skills development, and support services for approximately 2.9 million individuals with barriers to employment, including:
  • Low-income individuals.
  • Long-term unemployed individuals.
  • Individuals displaced by outsourcing.
  • Individuals living in rural or persistently high unemployment areas.
  • Individuals looking to acquire new skills.
  • Individuals with disabilities.

The more than 550 workforce development boards and 2,400 American Job Centers are a driving force behind regional economic growth by providing resources and assistance to workers striving to compete in the 21st-century economy.

Read the full resolution here.

ACT NOW:

Contact your member of the House of Representatives (find them online or dial the House switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative). Ask them to cosponsor House Resolution 1453 to recognize September 2024 as National Workforce Development Month.