(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.)
Last night, the President called on all Americans to commit themselves to one year of college or postsecondary training.
Last week, the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create or save 3.5 million jobs.
Yet, an estimated 80 – 90 million adults lack the basic education and skills to answer the President’s call or to qualify for the jobs that will be created.
According to a recent analysis by Anthony Carnevale at Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, 54 percent of these jobs will require at least some postsecondary education and high school dropouts will be eligible for only about one- fourth of them.
We will have to call upon our workforce development system that is supported through the workforce investment act to bridge that gap.
Tomorrow, the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness will hold its second hearing on the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act. We will hear testimony about the innovative ways that our stakeholders in the workforce investment system are working together to create pathways to success for workers who need basic skills development, a high school diploma, or English as a second language to compete and fully participate in a 21st century workforce.
Tune in tomorrow and send us your examples of innovative practices in your community.
Last night, the President called on all Americans to commit themselves to one year of college or postsecondary training. Last week, the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create or save 3.5 million jobs.
Yet, an estimated 80 – 90 million adults lack the basic education and skills to answer the President’s call or to qualify for the jobs that will be created.
According to a recent analysis by Anthony Carnevale at Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, 54 percent of these jobs will require at least some postsecondary education and high school dropouts will be eligible for only about one- fourth of them.
We will have to call upon our workforce development system that is supported through the workforce investment act to bridge that gap.
Tomorrow, the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness will hold its second hearing on the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act. We will hear testimony about the innovative ways that our stakeholders in the workforce investment system are working together to create pathways to success for workers who need basic skills development, a high school diploma, or English as a second language to compete and fully participate in a 21st century workforce.
Tune in tomorrow and send us your examples of innovative practices in your community.
