As America works hard to bring down its budget deficit and create lasting economic growth, it is important to support the critical role businesses play in creating jobs and developing human capital. At this time of limited resources, Congress must take a hard look at the workforce, tax, and education policies that shape Americaʼs talent pool and determine the economic future of all its citizens.
Although we are experiencing high unemployment and joblessness, employers continue to have trouble finding skilled employees. We urge Congress to align education, job training, and tax policies with the talent needs of employers. Doing so will help close the skills gap, connect talent with employment, and encourage business to create economic growth and upward mobility through on-the-job training and ongoing human capital development. Government alone cannot do the job. Government, businesses, and educators working together can get the job done and done right.
IN ACTION
Summer Jobs Plus Summit
Stephen M. Wing and Elyse Rosenblum played key roles at the White House Summer Jobs Plus Summit held January 5, 2012.
The event marked the launch of President Obama's challenge to businesses to commit to provide low-income youth with summer employment and other pathways to success. The president, who was on hand for the launch, stated that "America's young people face record unemployment, and we need to do everything we can to make sure they've got the opportunity to earn the skills and a work ethic that come with a job. It's important for their future, and for America's." The president then asked the businesses in the room to call on their colleagues, competitors and supply chains to join them in making a commitment to provide pathways to employment for these young people.
Joining the president to offer remarks were several important members of his administration, including Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture; Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education; Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett.
Recognizing that in a difficult economy not every business is in a position to hire, the administration's new Summer Jobs Plus initiative, launched at the Summit, supports not only businesses that hire youth, but also those companies that provide additional pathways for youth, such as internships, mentoring and other programs. Summer Jobs Plus identifies three strategies for companies to connect youth to a better path to employer - Life Skills, Work Skills and Learn and Earn - while simultaneously deriving benefits for their businesses, such as increased employee engagement, customer loyalty and employee retention. For more information, click here.
Capitol Hill Day
On April 14, Corporate Voices co-hosted a Capitol Hill briefing on successful workforce training models that create enterprising pathways for untapped talent.
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and Tom Ryan, Chairman of CVS Caremark Corp., brought star power to the briefing. But most compelling were the stories of young program graduates, who attested to lives forever changed by their journey through Year Up.
The day also saw business leaders from renowned American corporations join Year Up, Corporate Voices and representatives from other enterprising pathway programs for meetings with 35 key policymakers. Each meeting highlighted the most effective, scalable workforce development programs for driving economic growth, ultimately closing the gap between untapped talent and entry level workforce needs.
Current economic conditions have many on Capitol Hill calling for deep cuts - or total elimination - of the workforce training system. At a time of scarce resources, and growing talent demands in the private sector, it is important to educate policymakers on why resources must be directed to support enterprising pathway programs that work.
White House Council on Community Solutions Recognizes Corporate Voices' Contributions and Case Studies
The White House Council for Community Solutions is focused on the best ways to prepare our nation's youth for the jobs of the future. We know that this is an issue with critical near-term and long-term consequences for our nation's health and economic strength.
On Friday, October 14, 2011, the Council met and heard from its members about the progress occurring across the Working Groups within the Council. Corporate Voices' strategic partner, John Bridgeland, President and CEO of Civic Enterprises, presented preliminary findings on a third-party National Youth Survey designed to provide a better understanding of the educational and employment challenge faced by America's youth. One of Corporate Voices' national partners, the Forum for Youth Investment, has been assisting Civic Enterprises with this survey and report. The formal report is due out early November.
Bobbi Silten, Senior Vice President, Global Responsibility, Gap Inc., and President, Gap Foundation, provided an overview of the work of the Youth Employment Partnerships (YEP) Working Group. The YEP Working Group has been developing a toolkit for companies that will provide them the ability to examine the assets it possesses internally to strategically leverage and/or expand its community engagement investments that are targeted toward young people, specifically the untapped talent population. Corporate Voices for Working Families has been providing employer resources and knowledge to the YEP Working Group on the development of this tool. During the Council meeting, Corporate Voices was recognized for its contributions and case studies, developed through the New Options Project, which highlight employer partnerships with nonprofits focused on creating enterprising pathways for untapped talent. Corporate Voices' partner in the New Options Project, Year Up, was also highlighted for its model enterprising pathways program.
WORKFORCE TRAINING POLICY
It is critical that Congress turn its attention to the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act and pass a bill that will support investment in those programs that produce workers with the skills necessary to meet the talent demands of employers:
- Encourage Enterprising Pathways
- Create innovation incentive funds
- Focus on program effectiveness
- Put businesses at the table
- Make sure human capital contributes to reducing the deficit and creating economic growth
To read our one-pager on how we can strengthen the Workforce Investment Act, click here
TAX POLICY
Congress should encourage private and public investment in workforce training programs that produce real results by directly linking the talent demands of employers with individuals who may become productive employees through effective skills development. Congress should consider the following guidelines as it explores improvements to tax policy:
- Focus credits on programs that target young adults, aged 16-24, not employed, not in school full-time
- Reward programs that develop talent through Enterprising Pathways using:
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− Support for high school completion
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− Pre-employment training and internships
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− Hiring
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− Ongoing training post-hiring
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− Support for post-secondary completion
- Make sure the correct metrics are in place to focus tax benefits on outcomes
- Provide simple credits for productive hiring
- Make sure human capital contributes to reducing the deficit and creating economic growth
To read our one-pager on Tax Policy,click here
EDUCATION
As it considers education policy, including secondary, post-secondary, and career and technical education policies, Congress should make workforce needs central and shape desired education outcomes by following these key principles:
- Ensure complete skills development, including both academic and workforce skills.
- Utilize contextualized and work-based learning.
- Dramatically raise high school graduation rates.
- Focus on the lowest-performing schools and hold them accountable.
- Develop Enterprising Pathways.
- Promote post-secondary completion, not just enrollment.