WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor recently hosted Secretary Of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at “ETA Vision 2030: Investing in America,” a significant forum focused on the future of workforce development. This three-day event, organized by the department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), convened over 500 key stakeholders to strategize on preparing the nation’s workforce for the burgeoning job market fueled by the Biden-Harris administration’s landmark investments in infrastructure, climate solutions, and advanced manufacturing.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, in his address, urged attendees to pursue inventive approaches to unlock new opportunities and to forge alliances with federal, state, and local partners. The goal is to effectively utilize the administration’s nationwide investments. He emphasized the critical role of the Department of Transportation (DOT) in infrastructure enhancement and the corresponding workforce needs.
“We need all of you to create pathways to the jobs that the Department of Transportation will need to improve our nation’s infrastructure,” stated Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. He further underscored the importance of ensuring these are “good jobs – with a free and fair choice to join a union – and it’s critical that those jobs are accessible to all workers, making sure that the communities that are often most impacted are also helping to shape and build those projects.” This highlights the administration’s commitment to not only creating jobs but also ensuring job quality and equitable access.
Partnership and equity emerged as recurring themes throughout ETA Vision 2030. Secretary Buttigieg’s remarks served as a capstone to three days of collaborative workshops. Participants exchanged best practices on leveraging available resources and tools to cultivate local talent pipelines and establish pathways to quality employment for American workers across diverse sectors.
Building on this momentum, the Department of Labor made two significant announcements on May 17, 2023, further solidifying these objectives. The department unveiled its Critical Sectors Job Quality grants, designed to foster labor-management partnerships. These grants aim to pilot strategies that enhance job quality and expand the availability of family-sustaining jobs within critical sectors such as care, climate resilience, and hospitality, benefiting workers in all communities.
In a parallel announcement, the department introduced the latest cohort of 98 Apprenticeship Ambassadors. This initiative aims to broaden Registered Apprenticeships across the nation, particularly in burgeoning and high-growth industries. These sectors include information technology, with a focus on cybersecurity, education, healthcare, and clean energy. Apprenticeship Ambassadors are organizations committed to championing Registered Apprenticeships as a robust workforce development strategy to meet the escalating demands of high-demand industries and provide valuable career pathways.
“The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration urges each of you to return safely to your communities and to apply the insights gained at ETA Vision 2030,” encouraged Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent Parton. He emphasized the importance of continued engagement and partnership to leverage historic investments and, most importantly, to generate new employment opportunities. Parton concluded with a call to action, stating, “Our nation’s workers are depending on all of us, particularly those marginalized and underserved in our society. Help them get the training they need and deserve to access these good jobs. Together, we can build an economy that works for, and includes, everyone.”
For those interested in delving deeper into the discussions and insights shared at the event, recordings from the meeting are available. These recordings offer a valuable resource for stakeholders committed to advancing workforce development and creating a more inclusive and prosperous economy.
