A 21st century workforce

By U.S. Sen. Susan Collins

(R-Maine)

     Our nation and our state face great challenges in a global economy.  But we also have distinct advantages — first and foremost, our willingness to meet every challenge with ingenuity and determination.

     One challenge of paramount importance is developing a workforce with the skills and knowledge the 21st century requires. Americans have a work ethic and desire to succeed that is unsurpassed.  Yet a concern I hear again and again from Maine employers is the need to better align workforce training programs with the skills needed to compete today and into the future.

     Despite recent improvements in our nation’s unemployment rate, some job openings in high-growth industries remain unfilled.  In fact, recent data show that about one-third of the increase in unemployment among college-educated workers in the United States was the result of workers not having the right skills for the positions available.

     Apprenticeships are a tried and true approach for passing on the practical training needed to succeed in a job to the next generation.  An apprenticeship is just as applicable to the complex skills needed to compete in the 21st century workforce as it was in the 18th century when this country was founded.  

     I am a coauthor of the Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act of 2015 that would give employers a $5,000 tax credit based on wages paid by companies who hire individuals enrolled in a federal or state registered apprentice program, which must meet stringent standards for instructional rigor and quality training.  For every dollar we invest in apprenticeships, we get a return on investment of $27.  When we make investments in the American workforce, our country benefits from the strong return and positive growth they yield.

     Maine has some of the most forward-looking and successful apprenticeship programs in the county.  In May, I was delighted to host U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez in our state to showcase the success of the innovative workforce training programs located at two anchors of Maine’s economy: Bath Iron Works and the Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard in Kittery.  The visit underscored a shared commitment — indeed a passion — to work to ensure that Maine workers have the education, skills, and training needed for the jobs of the future.  These shipyards employ more than 11,000 workers with a payroll of nearly $600 million, and they are essential to our national security.

     Like the products and services that drive our economy, the skills needed to succeed change over time. I am confident that we can address these challenges by working together and thinking of innovative solutions.