Conclusion

The U.S. does not currently invest enough public money at the federal level to accomplish the costly balancing of the needs and priorities of businesses, training providers, and participants that effective workforce training requires. However, policymakers in Indiana, Washington, and other states across the country have shown that it is possible to create multifaceted policy systems that adequately fund accountable and career-relevant workforce training to help learners into better jobs and further educational opportunities. These systems can valuably supplement federal workforce development funding, and can be built to fit each state’s economic needs and administrative profile.

Higher education and skills training alone will not build a more equitable America. The economic catastrophe of the coronavirus pandemic that began in spring 2020 has driven home the need for much more ambitious reforms to the American social safety net. Still, when coupled with near-term federal stimulus and longer-term policy efforts to return dignity and stability to the fissured American workplace, well-designed state workforce training programs can provide crucial support for displaced and underemployed workers. Although future economic shocks and technological change will surely continue to disrupt the working lives of Americans, state investments that connect workers directly to good jobs through further education and training can help ensure that the devastating experiences of tollbooth attendants, personal stylists, hospitality staff, and millions of others in 2020 are not repeated.