Federal job-training act provides opportunities for workers to thrive.
For immediate release
Contact: Hannah Halbert, 614.221.4505
A new federal job-training act holds promise for low-wage, low-skilled workers, but Ohio must make several key moves to ensure struggling workers can achieve self-sufficiency, according to a report by Policy Matters Ohio.
President Obama last year signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to modernize the federal job-training system. The reform measure expands training and education options, directs the focus of the workforce development system to serve the most vulnerable workers, and encourages alignment and planning across key workforce and public assistance programs.
Ohio is focused on moving poor adults off public assistance programs, but a job will not necessarily move a family out of poverty. Most poor families are already working, but don’t earn enough to be self-sufficient. The federal act offers new strategies to help families achieve economic mobility, according to recommendations in the new report. Among other things, Ohio must coordinate public systems to better serve low-wage, low-skilled adults, and make education and training a priority. The public sector must also encourage creation of quality jobs
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