Improve access, affordability, and completion in post-secondary education and training

In Pennsylvania, as in many other places, job-seekers and employers face the shared challenge of a worker shortage. There are currently more job openings than there are available workers to fill them. Both job-seekers and employers must overcome significant barriers for Pennsylvania to close that gap. Five key barriers have been identified through the Command Center's work: child care, transportation, training, reentry, and professional licensure.

Pennsylvania faces a changing economy that's placing new demands on our workers and businesses. Employers are hiring, but the job-skills gap in today's workforce too often leads to a shortage of qualified job candidates. At the same time, too many workers are employed in low-wage jobs and lack the training they need to compete for in-demand careers. To meet these common challenges, state government, the education sector, labor, and industry must all work together to close the skills gap and build a well-trained workforce.

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Recommendations for advancing the digital skills of adult workers in Pennsylvania, provided by the 2021-22 Workforce Innovation Network Pennsylvania team. This planning is made possible through a grant from the National Governors Association.
With continued technology advancements and shifts to remote work and digital engagement,
addressing the digital divide is key to ensuring equitable economic participation for all Pennsylvanians.
Lack of technology access has been a long-known barrier to education and employment opportunities, but the limitation of in-person activities and shift to remote interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic shed light on how large, and how critical, the digital access and opportunity gap is. When people lack access to technology, it denies them the opportunity to participate in essential life activities, including:
• Education access across the K-12 and postsecondary sectors;
• Entry to employment, including finding a job and using online application platforms, as well as
basic technology skills qualifications;
• Opportunities to work remotely;
• Access to telemedicine for both physical and behavioral health needs;
• Participation in civic life and access to government services;
• The ability to stay connected with family and friends.

High School Students with Disabilities Who Enter Competitive Integrated Employment within Three Months of Their Graduation.

No Values means the numbers were suppressed less than 10.

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