Washington, D.C. — Against the backdrop of a fluctuating labor market over the past few years, and facing high demand in critical sectors, state-level policymakers are exhibiting renewed interest in strengthening their workforce development strategies.
A new analysis from the Center for American Progress provides a summary of workforce development best practices based upon a 50-state scan of legislation from the 2023 and 2024 sessions. The analysis spans 10 policy areas—including registered apprenticeships, career pathways, critical industries, and supportive services—and each section includes specific state examples.
Key examples from the report include:
- Delaware is utilizing registered apprenticeships to help address teacher shortages throughout the state, embracing an earn-and-learn career model to further incentivize aspiring teachers.
- Washington is tackling statewide nursing shortages by expanding educational opportunities and a pilot apprenticeship program for home health aides, placing a particular emphasis on staffing rural hospitals. The state is also creating opportunities in rural areas by funding scholarship opportunities for rural students.
- Oregon bolstered its manufacturing and technology industry by creating the Semiconductor Talent Sustaining Fund, a comprehensive approach to the industry that creates new educational pathways within the K-12 system and up.
- Coastal states such as California, Louisiana, Maine, and Oregon have passed legislation focused on offshore wind industry and workforce development, including requirements around strong labor standards and registered apprenticeships.
- Maryland supported its early childhood education workforce by passing sweeping legislation aimed at enhancing publicly funded prekindergarten programs.
Taken together, these strategies can be used to equitably boost labor force participation and increase access to good jobs within local communities across America.
“With an eye toward increasing economic opportunity and inclusion within their communities, states are investing in workforce development strategies in some novel and creative ways,” said Veronica Goodman, senior director for workforce development policy at CAP and co-author of the report. “Policymakers who face similar economic challenges should get curious about which policy strategies have worked well so that they can learn from each other’s successes.”
Read the report: “Workforce Development State Strategies: A 50-State Scan of Best Practices From Recent Action” by Veronica Goodman, Tania Otero Martinez, and Kennedy Andara
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Mishka Espey at [email protected].