Develop a skilled workforce that meets the needs of Pennsylvania's business community

"Pennsylvania has a lot to be proud of. Businesses are expanding, the economy is growing, and we’re setting all-time jobs records. But we have unfilled jobs and workers who need new, more advanced training."
-Governor Tom Wolf

Why is this goal important?

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.

What are we working on to reach this goal?

Governor Wolf’s Manufacturing PA initiative was launched in October 2017, and since then has funded 80 projects and invested more than $17.1 million through the Manufacturing Training-to-Career (MTTC) program. MTTC grants support projects that result in short-term work readiness, job placement, or the advancement of manufacturing. In 2021, new funding was made available to support the MTTC program to help businesses develop programs that bring awareness to careers and opportunities within the state’s manufacturing industry and support companies in identifying and training a skilled workforce through targeted programs and services. In August 2021, the Department of Labor & Industry launched SkillUp™ PA, a free online job training program offering thousands of modules and trainings to help Pennsylvania job seekers gain the new skills they need to join the workforce or advance their careers. Additionally, the 2020-24 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Plan has prioritized five broad goals for the workforce development system:
  1.  Career Pathways and Apprenticeship
  2. Sector Strategies and Employer Engagement
  3. Increased Opportunities for Youth
  4. Continuous Improvement of the Workforce Development System
  5. Strengthening the One-Stop Delivery System

How are we doing?

The chart below shows the number of trainings provided to Pennsylvania workers through the following state-supported programs: Local Government Training Partnership (LGTP), Partnership for Regional Economic Performance (PREP), and the Workforce & Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA).

Related Measures

Wage Gains from Training

The chart below shows the overall percentage change in wages for Industry Partnerships participants one year after they completed training. 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

The chart below shows the employment rate for adult beneficiaries of the WIOA.

Related Content

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