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ETA News Release: [06/25/2003]
Contact Name: Elissa
Pruett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Keynotes Forum on
Strengthening Training Programs for Workers
Conference to Examine Benefits of Worker Training
Jointly Sponsored by the Department of Labor and The Urban
Institute
WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today
addressed a job-training forum jointly sponsored by the Department of Labor and
the Urban Institute. The conference focused on ways to help workers build
better futures for themselves and their families by strengthening
employment-based worker training programs.
“This President and this Administration are dedicated to ensuring
that no worker is left behind,” Chao said. “The key to making this a
reality is designing a workforce development system that is demand driven. That
means training dislocated and other workers for jobs and skills that are in
demand.”
The Secretary also addressed Congressional reauthorization of the
Workforce Investment Act. “The Department recently spearheaded the
Administration’s effort to obtain passage of the Workforce Reinvestment
Act by the U.S. House of Representatives. It was a major step in the direction
of reforming our public workforce investment system so it responds more
effectively to the needs of the 21st century workforce,” said
Chao. As part of this reform, the President has asked the Congress to provide
$3.6 billion for personal reemployment accounts to empower dislocated
workers.
“As the President has said many times, “Chao added, “one
person out of work is one person too many. But government can only do so much.
The other half of the solution lies in greater private sector commitment to
training workers with the skills they need to succeed in the 21st
century workforce.”
In addition to Secretary Chao, Assistant Secretary for Employment and
Training Administration Emily DeRocco also addressed the conference. The Urban
Institute event, hosted with the Department of Labor, presented new data
demonstrating that tuition assistance and training programs for workers reduce
employee turnover. The data also indicated that companies that offer these
benefits outperform companies that do not invest in their workers. Under the
leadership of Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao, the Department of Labor has
worked to establish partnerships that link workers with education and training
opportunities in high growth industries.
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