MSSC Executive Briefing Report

MSSC's 2022 Annual Executive Briefing happened last month with representatives from the federal Departments of Labor, Education, and Commerce speaking on the on-going initiatives their offices performing for workforce development. They were also joined by speakers from the Manufacturing Institute and MSSC's Military Liaison. To view the report and subsequent recordings, please follow this link.

Reshoring Initiative's Harry Moser Interviewed by NBC

ADVICE TO READERS: MSSC has long appreciated and supported the work of the Reshoring Initiative in documenting the encouraging trends in recent years in the reshoring of manufacturing and manufacturing jobs to the U.S. RI’s President, Harry Moser, is now appearing with increasing frequency in Congressional testimony, in leading national publications and on TV shows. 

A recent example of the latter was Harry’s interview on NBC Nightly News Tonight aired on August 29. His interview started at 14:15 minutes into the that broadcast which can be viewed here.

Coverage of the RI and its President has become so frequent that MSSC cannot possibly report it all in our “MSSC Community Updates.” At our request, RI has prepared a report to our Community entitled, “Reshoring Initiative – Goals Tools and Services,” listing all the resources that the RI is providing and contact info for reaching out to Harry personally. We encourage our readers to take advantage of this major source of information on the exciting reshoring trends of great importance to the entire MSSC Community and the nation’s economy.    

President Biden signs CHIPS Act into law

On Aug. 2, President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law, allocating $280 billion in funding and tax incentives to boost domestic production and innovation in the semiconductor industry and broader science and technology industries.  

Senate Releases FY23 Funding Proposals

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a series of actions aimed at addressing student learning loss as a result of the pandemic. As part of the National Partnership for Student Success, ED will partner with AmeriCorps and the Johns Hopkins School of Education to recruit a quarter million new school tutors and mentors in the coming years. Officials hope that this additional capacity will help more schools and districts accelerate learning and reverse learning loss trends. The effort highlights how stakeholders can leverage and otherwise make use of federal pandemic aid funding provided as part of the American Rescue Plan. More information on the effort can be found here.

Department of Education Announces College Completion Grants

The Department of Education has announced $5 million in grant funds to support a new College Completion Fund for Postsecondary Student Success. The funding will support grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) to encourage postsecondary retention, transfer and completion. Read more about the grant here.

Survey Shows Manufacturing Optimism, Wage Increases

A Marcum survey shows 95% of manufacturers are optimistic about 2022 revenue, expecting the amount to meet or exceed 2021's. Finding enough skilled workers to replace those lost during the Great Resignation is the largest worry, affecting 83% of respondents, while 77% of respondents plan to hire more people within the next year, and 86% of respondents plan to raise wages.

Full Story at cbia.com.

GAO Releases Report on Workforce Automation

The General Accounting Office releases report on Workforce Automation: Insights into Skills and Training Programs for Impacted Workers. The report states that technology is increasingly automating tasks usually performed by people. Although data doesn't explicitly identify workers at risk of losing their jobs, it offers insight into skills needed for jobs that are projected to be in-demand. Some workforce training programs focus on resume writing and interviewing skills and getting a job quickly, even if it pays little. But many stakeholders said the programs also need to focus on skills needed to do in-demand jobs—including critical thinking and "soft skills" like social interaction. Some jobs that require such skills—e.g., nursing—may be less likely to be automated. The report can be found at Workforce Automation: Insights into Skills and Training Programs for Impacted Workers | U.S. GAO

ED Department Strategic Place

The US Department of Education released its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2022–26, describing the policy and operational priorities for the agency. The plan details the Department’s strategic goals and objectives over the next four years, from promoting equity in student access to educational resources, opportunities, and inclusive environments to enhancing the agency’s internal capacity to optimize the delivery of its mission. The plan also specifies the Department’s following Fiscal Year 2022–23 Agency Priority Goals: 1) address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, educators, and faculty; 2) effectively manage federal student loans; and 3) reduce disparities in the attainment of high-quality degrees and credentials. You can find the plan at the U.S Dept of Education's website.

New CTE Works Series

Advance CTE releases two (2) new briefs as part of its ‘Postsecondary CTE Data Quality Imitative” series, supported by the ECMC Foundation. The first two briefs released include:

1.   Advancing Postsecondary Career Technical Education (CTE) Data Quality Initiative. This brief addresses the importance of a unifying vision for education and workforce that draws upon and regularly uses postsecondary CTE data to measure progress and guide state policy and practice. Championing High-Quality Data | Advance CTE (careertech.org)

2.   Centering the Learner Process

This brief advances a theory of change that centers the learner experience in strategies to improve institutional data collection and use and strengthen college information management systems. It highlights five states participating in a postsecondary data quality improvement cohort. Centering the Learner Experience | Advance CTE (careertech.org)

Embedding Credit for Prior Learning in Career Pathways Policy Benchmark Tool

Advance CTE, in partnership with Education Strategy Group, developed a policy benchmark tool that serves as a comprehensive resource to empower state, system and institutional leaders to assess current Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) policy and practice to accelerate learners’ completion of career pathways that lead to high-quality credentials. Embedding Credit For Prior Learning in Career Pathways | Advance CTE (careertech.org)

Department of Lab Celebrates 85th Anniversary of Apprenticeship Act

The Department of Labor is celebrating the 85^th Anniversary of the National Apprenticeship Act! In recognition of this important milestone, the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) is kicking off the year-long celebration with several activities to commemorate the success of Registered Apprenticeship (RA) over the past 85 years in rebuilding our economy; providing access to good, quality jobs; advancing racial and gender equity; and supporting underserved communities! US Department of Labor to fuel Registered Apprenticeships’ growth with ApprenticeshipUSA branding effort, public conversations | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)

Upcoming Events

National Coalition for Advance Technology Centers

September 20-23, Charlotte, NC

Best Practices and Innovation in CTE Conference

September 28-30, 2022, Cape Cod, MA

Sponsored by ACTE and NCLA

Advance CTE Fall Meeting

October 17-19, 2022, Baltimore, MD

Forward Together: Creating Limitless Opportunities

CareerTech Vision

November 30-September 3, Las Vegas, NV

Sponsored by the Association of Career and Technical Education

Workforce Summit: Forging Partnerships

October 18-22, 2022, Cincinnati, OH

Sponsored by The Manufacturing Institute