Tom Corbett's Plan to Develop a World-Class Workforce

By Tom Corbett

Nothing is more critical to ensuring the economic vitality of Pennsylvania and to securing good-paying jobs for Pennsylvania families than the development of an educated workforce that meets the demands of the marketplace. Tom's workforce development proposals will put Pennsylvania on the right path to economic growth by eliminating waste and improving performance of state agencies, aligning education and training with the market place and recruiting college graduates back to Pennsylvania.

Align Education with Opportunity - Currently, workers are being trained for the jobs they want, regardless of whether such jobs are actually available. Tom's plan will help prepare Pennsylvania workers for the jobs of today and the jobs of the future.

• Grow the Education Improvement Tax Credit making education more affordable for Pennsylvanians.
• Enhance communication between government, educators and businesses in order to enable workers to determine which industries possess the most in-demand jobs.
• Maintain partnerships with industries and advance the agenda of the Pennsylvania Center for Advanced Manufacturing Careers.

Improve Interagency Cooperation and Performance - Reducing redundancy and improving collaboration between agencies reduces the waste of tax dollars and helps government serve taxpayers and businesses better.

Maximize Opportunities through Community Colleges and Alternative Education Institutions - Not all well-paying jobs require a four-year or graduate degree. Other educational institutions, such as community colleges, need funding in order to expand their facilities and create programs to recruit high schools students into educational tracks that train them for priority career paths.

Re-engage the Drop-Out Population - Tom Corbett will work with career centers to develop re-engagement programs for the drop-out population, support statewide literacy programs, and fund recovery-focused programs.

Recruit College Graduates Back to Pennsylvania - 81% of graduates leave Pennsylvania after completing their college degree and 25% of all native Pennsylvanians ultimately leave the state in search of employment. Developing a relationship between schools and businesses helps inform graduates on where to find the good jobs that are right here at home.

Secure Job Training for our Returning Veterans - The Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs will collaborate on outreach programs and utilize community groups, unions, and local career counseling resources to ensure veterans have access to the job training they need and the services they qualify for.

Adapt to Changes in Workforce Needs and Demographics - As the economy improves and baby boomers retire, there will be a gap in the workforce. Tom Corbett will identify the demands of a post-recession marketplace and encourage partnerships between businesses and educational institutions to promote on-the-job skills training for students. Tom Corbett will lead the way for our young workforce to stay in Pennsylvania today.