The state House has passed a series of bills designed to expand workforce development initiatives for Pennsylvania students and the businesses that are starving for employees.
Dubbed “Good Jobs for PA”, the bills aim to give students and those who already have jobs greater opportunities for higher-paying careers.
Representative Jim Struzzi says the bills address a critical need for qualified workers for businesses that have jobs but not enough people to fill them. “We are pushing a series of bills that apply directly to workforce development, giving students more opportunities in the trade industries, giving educators more opportunities and tools and resources to help those students pursue careers in the career and trade industries. I think it’s vitally important as we look at the shortage in workforce right now, there are people who can’t fill jobs here in Pennsylvania.”
One of the bills focuses on giving middle and high school students early exposure to potential careers through expos, job shadowing, internships, and other career-education initiatives. The other bills in the package would allow technical education schools the ability to recruit students like colleges do, make it easier for students to see which credits are eligible for transfer to other institutions, create a database of workforce development programs for students, create an online career resource center, and allow students who complete STEM classes to apply those credits to a course through a vo-tech style school.
The bills now will go to the Senate for consideration.
