This policy playbook presents a comprehensive set of strategies aimed at empowering state policymakers, governors, and state agency leaders to cultivate a strong, diverse, and multigenerational workforce capable of driving the development and maintenance of our nation's new infrastructure. By implementing the six key recommendations, state policymakers can connect more working people to quality jobs and create benefits for residents, businesses, and communities that rely on the implementation and maintenance of critical infrastructure.
The recommendations are: (1) Building a strong infrastructure workforce plan and conducting a comprehensive workforce assessment in collaboration with local entities, including employers, unions, educational institutions, and community-based organizations, helps state policymakers bridge the gap between available jobs and qualified workers, thus creating more opportunities for individuals seeking quality jobs; (2) Fostering industry partnerships that bring together businesses, unions, training providers, and community organizations to develop workforce strategies will help workers access quality infrastructure careers and address specific challenges. These partnerships promote equity and diversity, disrupt occupational segregation, and strategically utilize training funds for a competitive and inclusive infrastructure workforce; (3) Expanding access to skills training programs will enable individuals to acquire the expertise required for sustainable career paths. By leveraging pre-apprenticeships, registered apprenticeships, and workforce programs at community and technical colleges, state policymakers can enable broader participation in the labor market, thereby fostering a more inclusive and skilled workforce; (4) Incentivizing and supporting training, hiring, and career advancement opportunities for local residents will drive community development and enable equitable access to infrastructure-related jobs. This approach ensures that individuals residing in areas reliant on infrastructure development receive the benefits of new career prospects and advancement; (5) Providing economic support and breaking down barriers will bolster workforce participation, particularly among underrepresented groups, by addressing financial obstacles that may hinder their access to training and employment opportunities; and (6) Collecting comprehensive data on job quality, employment, and training outcomes, with a focus on race, gender, and geography, will facilitate evidence-based decision-making and ensure that policies are tailored to meet the specific needs of diverse communities.
Edited excerpt from publication.
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