What Are Other States Doing to Develop Workforce?

With an estimated 10,000 Baby Boomers retiring every day across the U.S., Ohio policymakers — in coordination with groups like the OMA — are taking a proactive approach to close the skills gap, focusing on initiatives to expand the use of industry-recognized credentials, grow apprenticeships, and strengthen local sector partnerships. But there’s plenty of competition from other states, all of whom are seeking to be workforce development leaders.

The National Conference of State Legislatures has published a summary of workforce legislation recently enacted by other states. This includes Connecticut’s Military-to-Machinists job training program; Maryland’s Apprenticeship Career Training Pilot Program for formerly incarcerated individuals; and Alabama’s “sweeping apprenticeship bill” that creates the Alabama Registered and Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program, as well as tax incentives to hire apprentices. 1/27/2020