Legislation on Job Training Moves in the House

Today, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a markup on the Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012, which would help reform the nation’s job training system by strengthening employer engagement in state and local workforce decisions, as well as by giving states and localities more flexibility. AGC sent a letter to the committee outlining AGC’s support for a strong and skilled workforce. AGC highlighted that the construction industry is made up of predominantly small employers. In the past, many employers in the industry have had trouble connecting with local workforce investment systems or workforce investment boards (WIBs) due to the structure of the boards and types of training offered locally. However, H.R. 4297 will strengthen the presence and participation of employers on WIBs, and this increased participation by employers will be a welcomed change to the construction industry. Local employers can ensure that local job training will address workforce gaps and better fit local population needs. AGC intends to continue to work with congressional leaders on reforming the job training system and to ensure that the industry benefits from its reforms. The legislation will now head for a vote in the House; its outlook for consideration in the Senate is less clear. For more information, please contact Jim Young at (202) 547-0133 or youngj@agc.org.