Obama Unveils Blueprint to Train Two Million New Workers

Through the Community College to Career Fund, the Obama Administration aims to train two million new workers for skilled, high-demand jobs.

Through his State of the Union address, President Obama announced that his Administration is aiming for a national commitment to help create an economy built to last by training two million workers with skills that will lead directly to a job.

While there are many Americans today looking for work, there are some jobs that require specific technical skills. That is why Obama’s Administration is looking to the future to fill millions of well-paying mid- and high-level skilled positions in high-growth industries from healthcare to advanced manufacturing, clean energy to information technology by investing now in community colleges.

President Obama is touting a new $8 billion Community College to Career Fund, co-administered by the Department of Labor and the Department of Education, that will help develop partnerships between community colleges and businesses to hit the two million worker target.

“It provides funding for community colleges and states to partner with businesses to train workers in a range of high-growth and in-demand areas, such as health care, transportation, and advanced manufacturing,” says a press release.

“These investments will give more community colleges the resources they need to become community career centers where people learn crucial skills that local businesses are looking for right now, ensuring that employers have the skilled workforce they need and workers are gaining industry-recognized credentials to build strong careers.”

The Community College to Career Fund in the President’s Budget will advance skill building through supporting community college-based training programs that will expand targeted training and invest in registered apprenticeships and other on-the-job training opportunities.

The Fund will also help low-income community college students earn credit for work-based learning and while also gaining relevant employment experience in a high-wage, high-skill field by supporting paid internships.

“States will also be able to seek funding to support employer efforts to upgrade the skills of their workforce.”

Under the Community College to Career Fund, states would be eligible for funding to support bonus programs for training programs whose graduates earn a credential and find quality jobs shortly after finishing the program.

“Pay for performance structures would provide stronger incentives for programs that effectively place individuals who face greater barriers to employment.”

The Community College to Career Fund will encourage states and districts to work with federal agencies:

“State and local governments will be able to apply for grants to encourage companies to locate in the U.S. because of the availability of training to quickly skill up the local workforce.”

Comments

Linda Brees

February 16, 2012 at 11:15 am

This is really timely. We should be working harder to deemphasising the importance of a college degree to getting a job. It’s really just too expensive and unneccesarry to have to go to college to do most jobs.

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Kevin

February 16, 2012 at 11:16 am

I agree. Obama should be placing more emphasis on vocation education and this is a good first step.

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Mike

February 16, 2012 at 11:24 am

Agreed, but then shouldn’t it follow that high schools not be college preperatory for all children? NCLB and all students 100% proficient in Chemistry? Do we need chemistry for these jobs?

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- Just Curious
  
  February 16, 2012 at 11:55 am
  
  It seems President Obama is slowly removing the failed GOP, NCLB program. Finally, a president using a little tact with the other side of the isle. think the rebs my try to run more interference? Seems like they’re getting away from talking about jobs and the economy lately.
  
  Reply
- Kevin
  
  February 16, 2012 at 1:39 pm
  
  Mike, the goal of high school is to prepare kids for college if that is what they choose to do. Someone shouldn’t graduate from high school thinking he’d get a job and then change his mind, decide to go to college instead and feel like that shit had sailed since they’re not prepared to do college-level work. Everyone gets a comprehensive education, and then after 12th grade, they decide where they need to go. I think that would be ideal.
  
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Kevin

February 16, 2012 at 1:39 pm

Feel like that SHIP has sailed. Damn. Sorry.

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tired teacher

February 17, 2012 at 4:00 am

i agree with kevin’s last post, that is the point in high school right now and i frequently say that to my kids.

If i didn’t expose you to this science would you ever go try to find anything out about it?

and if we didn’t force them to take these classes they wouldn’t have the option to find out what they want to do as their life progresses.

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Not so neat « Roads are made by Traveling

February 18, 2012 at 9:31 pm

[...] career options very, very limited. Don’t know why people decide to not go to college or even community college or take up some form of trade after high school. I wonder if they think the world would come to [...]

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