Skills Gap Strategy Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to develop a strategy report to address the skills gap by providing analysis and recommendations to increase on-the-job training and apprenticeship opportunities, identify industry-recognized postsecondary credentials that are nationally portable and aligned with in-demand occupations in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and others that are emerging, and increase employer participation in education and workforce training.
Defines the term "skills gap" as the difference, or gap, between the current supply of labor and skills of the workforce and that which is desired by employers.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1619 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1619
To direct the Secretary of Labor to develop a strategy report to
address the skills gap by providing recommendations to increase on-the-
job training and apprenticeship opportunities, increase employer
participation in education and workforce training, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 30, 2013
Mr. Donnelly (for himself and Mr. Heller) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Labor to develop a strategy report to
address the skills gap by providing recommendations to increase on-the-
job training and apprenticeship opportunities, increase employer
participation in education and workforce training, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Skills Gap Strategy Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. STRATEGY REPORT.
(a) Strategy Report Required.--The Secretary shall develop and
submit to Congress a strategy report to address the skills gap by
providing analysis and recommendations to increase on-the-job training
and apprenticeship opportunities and increase employer participation in
education and workforce training.
(b) Goals of the Strategy Report.--The strategy report required by
subsection (a) shall include specific recommendations to achieve the
following goals:
(1) To increase the aggregate number of employers and
employees participating in on-the-job training and
apprenticeships.
(2) To determine ways in which the Department of Labor can
increase employer outreach to encourage new and expanded
employer participation in education and workforce training.
(3) To identify and prioritize industry-recognized
postsecondary credentials that are nationally portable and
aligned with in-demand occupations in industries such as
construction, manufacturing, and others that are emerging.
(4) To determine ways in which the Department of Labor can
better address the skills gap by maximizing existing resources,
programs, and personnel.
(c) Analysis Required.--As part of the strategy report under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall, at a minimum, include the
following:
(1) A comparison of United States on-the-job training and
apprenticeship policies and strategies with the policies and
strategies of other countries where employers play a larger
role in education and workforce training.
(2) An assessment of the Department of Labor's Registered
Apprenticeship program to determine how it can be better
utilized to appeal to more industries and to boost the goals
described in subsection (b).
(3) An evaluation of any existing or potential
opportunities within the Department of Labor to refocus or
repurpose resources and personnel to better support on-the-job
training and apprenticeship goals.
(4) An analysis of the specific barriers preventing the
domestic workforce from acquiring the skills desired by
domestic employers, including an assessment of opportunities to
reduce those barriers by--
(A) improving coordination between Federal agencies
that administer employment and training programs; and
(B) modifying Federal employment and training
programs to enable States to better utilize Federal
employment and training funds.
(d) Recommendations.--The Secretary shall include in the skills gap
strategy report required under subsection (a) recommendations for
achieving the goals included in the strategy pursuant to subsection
(b). Such recommendations may include proposals as follows:
(1) Actions that may be taken by the Federal Government,
Congress, State, local and territorial governments, the private
sector, universities, industry associations, and other
stakeholders to improve policies, coordination, and interaction
between such entities, including strategies and best practices
to--
(A) boost public-private partnerships and employer-
led partnerships; and
(B) help establish regional industry partnerships.
(2) Adoption of strategies that have been implemented and
proven successful in key industries and regions in the United
States and in other countries.
(3) In coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and the
Secretary of Education, develop plans that identify
strategies--
(A) for increased employer participation in career
and technical education;
(B) to better align career and technical education
curriculums and programs with fast growing industry
sectors;
(C) to encourage more pre-apprenticeship and
college credit courses in secondary schools;
(D) to improve school-to-work transitions and
connections; and
(E) to assist employers in partnering with K-12
schools, community colleges, and service providers.
(e) Submittal of Strategy Report.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress the strategy report developed under this section.
(f) Implementation.--The Secretary may implement the
recommendations under subsection (d) as the Secretary determines
appropriate, if otherwise permitted under law.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Industry recognized.--The term ``industry-recognized'',
as used with respect to a credential, means a credential that--
(A) is sought or accepted by employers within the
industry sector involved as recognized, preferred, or
required for recruitment, screening, hiring, or
advancement;
(B) is endorsed by a recognized trade or
professional association or organization, representing
a significant part of the industry sector; and
(C) is a nationally portable credential that is
sought or accepted across multiple States, as described
in subparagraph (A).
(2) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term
``recognized postsecondary credential'' means a credential
consisting of an industry-recognized credential for
postsecondary training, a certificate that meets the
requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (C) of paragraph (1) for
postsecondary training, a certificate of completion of a
postsecondary apprenticeship through a program described in
section 122(a)(2)(B) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
(29 U.S.C. 2842(a)(2)(B)), or an associate degree or
baccalaureate degree awarded by an institution of higher
education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Labor.
(4) Skills gap.--The term ``skills gap'' refers to the
difference, or gap, between the current supply of labor and
skills of the workforce and that which is desired by employers.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7967)
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