Both the State of Ohio and the Federal Government today announced a new push to help Americans find good jobs whether or not they have a college degree.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order expanding the state's efforts to be a model employer in skill-based hiring practices.
The skill-based hiring movement focuses on specific coursework, skills, experience, and training and de-emphasizes previous qualification requirements that were stated in terms of academic degrees.
In a release from the Governor's office, DeWine says "The State of Ohio has been at the forefront of recognizing the importance of hiring a diverse workforce based upon the skills they bring to an employer. Today's Executive Order furthers Ohio's nationwide-leading work with unique initiatives to further our efforts to recruit the best talent regardless of academic degree."
Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, adds: “By shifting the emphasis to specific skills and competencies relevant to the role, employers can identify candidates who possess the necessary capabilities, regardless of their educational background.”
As part of that effort, the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) will designate a coordinator to work with Career-Technical Education programs to identify and recruit program graduates for vacant positions with the State.
In addition, the White House issued a statement today outlining the Biden-Harris administration's push to ensure that people can access good jobs created through recent initiatives, including the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
The administration is partnering with state and local officials, employers, unions, community colleges, high schools, and other stakeholders to ensure a diverse and skilled workforce can meet the demand for labor driven by these investments, starting with five focus regions; Phoenix, Columbus, Baltimore, Augusta, and Pittsburgh.
Columbus was chosen, because they say it has emerged as a center of investment across a variety of industries—including in semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy, and transportation.
In partnership with Intel, the Ohio Semiconductor Collaboration Network is developing curriculum for two-year pathways—including dual enrollment models—to semiconductor technician roles, to be shared across the nearly two dozen community colleges in the state.
The city of Columbus pioneered a model to diversify construction Registered Apprenticeships, which is now being replicated elsewhere in the nation through a Department of Labor-funded partnership between TradesFutures and the National Urban League.