PROVIDENCE, RI - As unemployment skyrockets in Rhode Island and nationwide, and governors work together to determine when and how the economy can be safely reopened, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is calling for a national workforce development strategy and a new $15.1 billion investment in job training to help workers prepare for a post-pandemic future.

“Nobody knows exactly when things will fully reopen, but when they do the economy will have shifted.  Certain jobs and sectors will be increasingly in demand and others will take longer to recover.  I want Rhode Islanders to be ready to take advantage of job opportunities and I want to ensure the state has the workforce it needs to make a strong comeback.  That means investing in job training and adult education, reprogramming our workforce development pipeline, and helping people learn the skills they need to earn a living in the new economy,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, who is calling on Congress to provide an additional $15.1 for workforce development to assist states.

Congress recently provided states with $345 million in Dislocated Worker Grants (DWG) for temporary employment and training programs through state and local workforce programs.  The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) received $2.3 million in DWG funding to assist dislocated workers, workers who were laid-off due to COVID-19, self-employed individuals who are unemployed or underemployed as a result of COVID-19, and long-term unemployed individuals.  The state is also receiving federal assistance to enhance unemployment insurance benefits and other key investments.  But Senator Reed says Congress must do more to support workers and bolster state workforce development efforts.

Reed recently joined with 23 of his colleagues in penning a letter to Senate leadership requesting a minimum workforce development investment of $15.1 billion in the phase-four coronavirus relief bill.  The Senators say workforce development, adult education, and career and technical education (CTE) funding will be key to helping both workers and businesses overcome challenges and make a successful transition.

"Although unemployment is surging overall, certain workforce needs are nonetheless growing, from frontline health services to manufacturing PPE and essential equipment, to contact tracing, and there is frequently a mismatch between the skills demanded for these jobs and the available workforce," the 24 Senators wrote. "Although jobs in these industries do not always require four-year academic degrees, they necessitate high-quality workforce training and development. An immediate investment in workforce development would respond to the current demand for these employees while offering Americans meaningful, well-paying careers."

Since March 16th, approximately 26.5 million Americans have filed for unemployment and the economy continues to shed jobs.

"By supporting the development and availability of a workforce trained in in-demand skills, we can accelerate the recovery of our nation's economy. Providing these newly unemployed individuals--and those yet to file claims--training and support today will prepare them to transition into new careers and pursue reemployment opportunities as our economy rebounds," the Senators continued.

Specifically, Senator Reed wants additional funding for programs authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act -- programs designed to help build a strong, skilled, and diverse American workforce.

“When the economy resets, we’ve got to be ready to redeploy our workforce to critical areas that are experiencing a surge, while also helping people in receding sectors that will take longer to recover,” noted Reed.  “To achieve that goal, we need programs in place to help workers and businesses alike.  We’ve got to plan, invest, and act now.  Whether it is scaling up virtual  job training online or honing workforce development strategies and best practices, we must ensure we are training people for in-demand skillsets that’s right for them.  I will continue pressing to deliver additional federal dollars to support the state.”

A diverse coalition of 38 labor and education advocacy groups is backing the call to invest at least $15 billion in workforce development and career and technical education in the next coronavirus relief bill, including: Advance CTE; American Association of Community Colleges; AnitaB.org; Association for Career and Technical Education; Association of Community College Trustees; Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs; Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE); Augustus F. Hawkins Foundation; Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education; Coalition on Adult Basic Education; Corporation for a Skilled Workforce; Goodwill Industries International, Inc.; Heartland Alliance; IMPRINT; International Economic Development Council (IEDC); Jobs for the Future; Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC); MIRA Coalition; National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE); National Association of Development Organizations; National Association of Regional Councils; National Association of State Directors of Adult Education (NASDAE); National Association of Workforce Boards; National Coalition for Literacy; National Employment Law Project (NELP); National League of Cities; National Job Corps Association; National Skills Coalition; National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues; Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies; ProLiteracy; The Corps Network; The National Council for Workforce Education; United States Workforce Association; United Way Worldwide; World Education Services; and YouthBuild USA.

The full text of the letter follows:

Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer:

Thank you for your bipartisan effort to respond to the health and economic impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As you prepare for a fourth economic relief package, we respectfully request you allocate at least $15.1 billion to the workforce development system in the United States to help our country respond the demands for new workers in key industries and help individuals who have lost their jobs as a result of this crisis transition to family-supporting jobs.

Over the past month, nearly 22 million workers filed unemployment claims, and nearly all of the jobs gained in the last five years have been lost. In addition, the Economic Policy Institute estimates that 19.8 million workers will lose their jobs or be furloughed by summer, and that the national unemployment rate will be well above 15 percent by July.

Although unemployment is surging overall, certain workforce needs are nonetheless growing, from frontline health services to manufacturing PPE and essential equipment, to contact tracing, and there is frequently a mismatch between the skills demanded for these jobs and the available workforce.  Although jobs in these industries do not always require four-year academic degrees, they necessitate high-quality workforce training and development. An immediate investment in workforce development would respond to the current demand for these employees while offering Americans meaningful, well-paying careers.

Moreover, we must strategically plan for a post-coronavirus period of economic recovery and make sure workers have the construction, manufacturing, and other technical skills that they need to rejoin an evolving workforce. Economists are already warning that many of the jobs lost may not come back and that the current crisis will only accelerate changes in the economy.  By supporting the development and availability of a workforce trained in in-demand skills, we can accelerate the recovery of our nation’s economy. Providing these newly unemployed individuals—and those yet to file claims—training and support today will prepare them to transition into new careers and pursue reemployment opportunities as our economy rebounds.

Labor unions, workforce boards, community colleges, community-based organizations, and other groups that provide career and technical education, are ready to support Americans who are in need of assistance, as they were during the downturn known as the “Great Recession.” Congress was also ready to assist workers during that crisis; it increased funding for employment and training assistance by 40 percent. That decisive action helped our workforce development system serve more than eight million people. We ask Congress to once again support employment and training assistance programs.

Specifically, we urge you to invest at least $15.1 billion in programs authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, including Wagner-Peyser, youth and adult education, Layoff Aversion Funds, and the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, in forthcoming COVID-19 relief legislation. 

Thirty-eight labor and education advocacy groups share our concerns and call for immediate assistance from Congress.

Thank you for your commitment to developing a strong, skilled, and diverse workforce in the United States. We look forward to working with you on the next relief package to ensure we provide resources to reskill and upskill workers.

Sincerely,