Obama Administration funds Job-driven Training in high growth industries – IT, Healthcare

 

Information Technology job training

A sensible approach
For a stronger economy and to further America’s competitive edge on the world stage, the Obama administration is maintaining its focus on the middle class. Many agree with the President’s plan that equipping Americans with the skills necessary to compete in today’s global economy will open up opportunities for citizens at home and abroad, while at the same time stifling the outsourcing of jobs to countries like India and China.

For most working class Americans, it was welcome news when earlier this year the president made it clear that leaders in his administration have been instructed to lead an across the board reform of all federal training programs to make sure that the unified mission is to “train Americans with the skills employers need. Not something that looks good on paper but doesn’t give you a job. Find out what are the jobs that need to be filled and make sure folks are being trained and matched to those good jobs,” said President Obama during the White House’s announcement of $600 million in competitive grants to support job-training programs in the country.

High growth industries identified for these programs include information technology (IT), energy, advance manufacturing, healthcare, and construction.

Skills and Jobs
A White House statement (April 16, 2014) entitled ‘American Job Training Investments: Skills and Jobs to Build a Stronger Middle Class’ detailing its strategy reads:

To create new opportunities for all hard-working Americans to get ahead, the President has asked the Vice President to lead an initiative to help individuals get trained with skills businesses need now and then placed in good, middle class jobs. Training America’s workers with the skills they need for a good job can help middle class families feel more secure in their jobs and help American businesses grow our economy. But too many businesses can’t find skilled workers for jobs they want to fill, while too many people looking for a job may be ready to learn new skills but may not be certain that there’s a job waiting for them on the other end. Community colleges are one of the best ways to train workers with the skills they need for a job, and hands-on apprenticeships are one of the clearest paths to a good, secure middle class job. In fact, 87 percent of apprentices are employed after completing their programs and the average starting wage for apprenticeship graduates is over $50,000.

Today, as part of this effort, the President and Vice President are announcing new federal investments using existing funds to support job-driven training, like apprenticeships, that will expand partnerships with industry, businesses, unions, community colleges, and training organizations to train workers in the skills they need. Employers, unions, and foundations are joining these efforts with new commitments to support job-driven training. These steps are part of President Obama’s commitment to make 2014 a year of action, acting with Congress when possible but also using his pen and his phone – calling on businesses, philanthropy, non-profits, states, and local communities to act.

American Job Training Executive Actions include:

  • – Partnering Local Businesses with Community Colleges to Put Americans Back to Work Through a Nearly $500 Million Job Training Competition.
  • – Expanding Apprenticeships for Good Middle Class Jobs.
  • – Making Apprenticeships Work for More Americans.

President Obama and Vice-President Biden’s remarks

 

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