Job training and workforce development

How government pays for and runs job training and placement, from apprenticeships that pay people while they learn a trade to community college courses and retraining for workers whose jobs disappear, and which programs qualify.

Invest in job training and workforce development

8 members
Roy Cooper
Senate · North Carolina · Democrat
“He also focused on boosting public education, tackling the opioid crisis, revitalizing rural communities and making sure North Carolinians have the training to fill the better-paying jobs that require new skills.”
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Abdul El-Sayed
Senate · Michigan · Democrat
“We need to think past traditional models of education. I’ll work alongside our unions to fund and expand vocational and apprenticeship training opportunities so that every American has a pathway to expand their skills.”
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Peggy Flanagan
Senate · Minnesota · Democrat
“The path to good jobs should be open to everyone. Peggy supports more investment in registered apprenticeships to build the workforce we need.”
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Troy Jackson
Senate · Maine · Democrat
“Today, Maine Senate Democrats voted in favor of a historic investment in Maine businesses and working families who experienced profound hardship and extraordinary tragedy throughout this pandemic. It will lift up the farmers and fishermen who have suffered greatly after the demand for local foods disappeared overnight when restaurants had to close their dining rooms, while also boosting small businesses all across the state. It will help Maine seniors and individuals with disabilities afford to stay in their homes while supporting family caregivers and working to build a robust direct care workforce. And, it will make long-overdue investments in our career technical education and workforce training programs, while also working to close gaps in our health care workforce and system”
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Julia Letlow
Senate · Louisiana · Republican
“Support maritime workforce development”
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Chris Pappas
Senate · New Hampshire · Democrat
“Chris fought to secure federal funding to expand Nashua Community College’s workforce development program and provide support for nursing students who commit to careers in rural and underserved communities.”
View on their website ↗
“He has pushed to strengthen career training and apprenticeship programs, cut red tape to allow veterans to use their VA benefits to access training in critical-need industries like trucking, and create a one-stop shop to share apprenticeship information to better meet the needs of employers and students.”
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“Chris is working to create a 21st-century workforce and supports efforts to expand job training and apprenticeships.”
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“On the New Hampshire Executive Council, Chris worked with Republicans to support New Hampshire’s job training and technical education programs.”
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James Talarico
Senate · Texas · Democrat
“Create jobs and grow our energy workforce: Add to Texas’ hundreds of thousands of oil, gas, wind, and solar jobs by creating good-paying jobs for cutting-edge projects like geothermal and hydrogen-fueled energy, as well as finishing the job of plugging abandoned oil and gas wells. Maintain Texas’ energy leadership by establishing more job training and Registered Apprenticeship programs focused on energy engineering, manufacturing, and construction.”
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“Support a strong agricultural workforce: Expand workforce development to train new workers in the industry, support farmer-to-farmer programs, and help farmers and ranchers lower food costs for Americans by responsibly hiring migrant workers when they can’t find Americans to fill their jobs — including by simplifying the H-2A visa program application and ensuring strong labor standards on those visas so that employers do not game the system to displace American workers and suppress their wages.”
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Josh Turek
Senate · Iowa · Democrat
“Invest in job training programs and apprenticeships to prepare the next generation of Iowans to fill gaps in the labor market without having to go to college.”
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Expand apprenticeship programs

6 members
Roy Cooper
Senate · North Carolina · Democrat
“Grow and support the child care workforce. Increase the quality and supply of childcare by investing in apprenticeships for child care workers and paying better wages.”
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“Roy Cooper’s plan to make child care more affordable would help working families pay for child care directly through tax credits and increased employee benefits, and would help increase the number of affordable child care providers by investing in apprenticeships and cutting unnecessary red tape for child care facilities.”
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Abdul El-Sayed
Senate · Michigan · Democrat
“Education Investment: Education should be free, particular for early and mid-career workers through community college partnerships, guaranteed apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship training.”
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“Education & Workforce Pipeline: Fixing school infrastructure funding formulas, building toward debt-free and tuition-free higher education, and expanding HBCU and apprenticeship investment.”
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“Invest in pathways – Expand Title III funding for HBCUs and community colleges, and grow DOL-registered apprenticeships.”
View on their website ↗
“We need to think past traditional models of education. I’ll work alongside our unions to fund and expand vocational and apprenticeship training opportunities so that every American has a pathway to expand their skills.”
View on their website ↗
Peggy Flanagan
Senate · Minnesota · Democrat
“The path to good jobs should be open to everyone. Peggy supports more investment in registered apprenticeships to build the workforce we need.”
View on their website ↗
Chris Pappas
Senate · New Hampshire · Democrat
“He has pushed to strengthen career training and apprenticeship programs, cut red tape to allow veterans to use their VA benefits to access training in critical-need industries like trucking, and create a one-stop shop to share apprenticeship information to better meet the needs of employers and students.”
View on their website ↗
“Chris is working to create a 21st-century workforce and supports efforts to expand job training and apprenticeships.”
View on their website ↗
James Talarico
Senate · Texas · Democrat
“Create jobs and grow our energy workforce: Add to Texas’ hundreds of thousands of oil, gas, wind, and solar jobs by creating good-paying jobs for cutting-edge projects like geothermal and hydrogen-fueled energy, as well as finishing the job of plugging abandoned oil and gas wells. Maintain Texas’ energy leadership by establishing more job training and Registered Apprenticeship programs focused on energy engineering, manufacturing, and construction.”
View on their website ↗
“Invested in the next generation of Texas workers by supporting an increase in Registered Apprenticeship programs and requiring local workforce boards to develop specific strategies to connect young people to workforce training and job opportunities.”
View on their website ↗
“Ensure America continues to lead the world in the quality of its tech workforce: Invest in STEM education to foster the next generation of responsible tech leaders, as well as programs like Registered Apprenticeships aimed at re-training workers displaced or at risk of being displaced by AI so they can excel in industry-leading technology jobs.”
View on their website ↗
“Grew our technology workforce by approving the creation of an Information Technology credential and apprenticeship program.”
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Josh Turek
Senate · Iowa · Democrat
“Invest in job training programs and apprenticeships to prepare the next generation of Iowans to fill gaps in the labor market without having to go to college.”
View on their website ↗

Invest in community colleges, trade schools and vocational education

4 members
Abdul El-Sayed
Senate · Michigan · Democrat
“Education Investment: Education should be free, particular for early and mid-career workers through community college partnerships, guaranteed apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship training.”
View on their website ↗
“Invest in pathways – Expand Title III funding for HBCUs and community colleges, and grow DOL-registered apprenticeships.”
View on their website ↗
Troy Jackson
Senate · Maine · Democrat
“Today, Maine Senate Democrats voted in favor of a historic investment in Maine businesses and working families who experienced profound hardship and extraordinary tragedy throughout this pandemic. It will lift up the farmers and fishermen who have suffered greatly after the demand for local foods disappeared overnight when restaurants had to close their dining rooms, while also boosting small businesses all across the state. It will help Maine seniors and individuals with disabilities afford to stay in their homes while supporting family caregivers and working to build a robust direct care workforce. And, it will make long-overdue investments in our career technical education and workforce training programs, while also working to close gaps in our health care workforce and system”
View on their website ↗
Chris Pappas
Senate · New Hampshire · Democrat
“Chris fought to secure federal funding to expand Nashua Community College’s workforce development program and provide support for nursing students who commit to careers in rural and underserved communities.”
View on their website ↗
“On the New Hampshire Executive Council, Chris worked with Republicans to support New Hampshire’s job training and technical education programs.”
View on their website ↗
James Talarico
Senate · Texas · Democrat
“Made career and workforce training more affordable by creating tuition and fee exemptions, establishing the public junior college state finance program, and supporting the creation of the Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund.”
View on their website ↗

Make job training free or affordable, without debt

3 members
Abdul El-Sayed
Senate · Michigan · Democrat
“Education Investment: Education should be free, particular for early and mid-career workers through community college partnerships, guaranteed apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship training.”
View on their website ↗
Juliana Stratton
Senate · Illinois · Democrat
“That’s why in Illinois, Juliana has worked alongside Governor Pritzker to expand opportunities for the middle class: creating new jobs, investing in 21st century industries, and lowering the cost of job training so workers can get higher-paying jobs.”
View on their website ↗
James Talarico
Senate · Texas · Democrat
“Made career and workforce training more affordable by creating tuition and fee exemptions, establishing the public junior college state finance program, and supporting the creation of the Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund.”
View on their website ↗

Help workers find jobs through placement programs

2 members
Abdul El-Sayed
Senate · Michigan · Democrat
“This endorsement affirms Abdul’s commitment to the Working Families Guarantee, a policy platform that seeks to create a more affordable and dignified America for the working class. It includes a commitment to more affordable housing and healthcare, creating a national program to help workers find union jobs, guaranteed low-cost childcare, and 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave – achievable by taxing the ultra-wealthy and eliminating big money in our politics.”
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James Talarico
Senate · Texas · Democrat
“Invested in the next generation of Texas workers by supporting an increase in Registered Apprenticeship programs and requiring local workforce boards to develop specific strategies to connect young people to workforce training and job opportunities.”
View on their website ↗

Retrain workers whose jobs change or disappear, including from AI

1 member
James Talarico
Senate · Texas · Democrat
“Ensure America continues to lead the world in the quality of its tech workforce: Invest in STEM education to foster the next generation of responsible tech leaders, as well as programs like Registered Apprenticeships aimed at re-training workers displaced or at risk of being displaced by AI so they can excel in industry-leading technology jobs.”
View on their website ↗

Open apprenticeships and training to groups that face barriers

1 member
Chris Pappas
Senate · New Hampshire · Democrat
“He has pushed to strengthen career training and apprenticeship programs, cut red tape to allow veterans to use their VA benefits to access training in critical-need industries like trucking, and create a one-stop shop to share apprenticeship information to better meet the needs of employers and students.”
View on their website ↗

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