PRINTER'S NO. 1985
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
381
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY BARTOLOTTA, TARTAGLIONE, BROWNE, FONTANA, ARNOLD,
DINNIMAN, FARNESE, MENSCH, KILLION, ARGALL AND AUMENT,
SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Designating September 2020 as "Workforce Development Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, According to the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce
Information and Analysis, Pennsylvania's labor force consists of
over 6.4 million workers; and
WHEREAS, In light of the economic impact of COVID-19,
Pennsylvania's unemployment rate for July 2020 was 13.7%; and
WHEREAS, Workforce development, while always the backbone of
Pennsylvania's economic development, is now a critical component
to Pennsylvania's economic recovery by helping Pennsylvanians
find family-sustaining jobs, supporting local employers in their
talent management needs and strengthening regional economies;
and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has diverse and competitive industry
sectors in fields such as advanced manufacturing, health care,
energy, financial and business services, information technology,
logistics and transportation, building and construction and
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others; and
WHEREAS, According to the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics, there are three unemployed persons per one job
opening; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania employers must tap into a pipeline and
an emerging workforce to operate competitively; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's skill gap still remains because
employers report that 60% of job openings will require a post-
secondary education by 2025 and only 50.3% of Pennsylvanians
possess this credential or higher; and
WHEREAS, Sustained investment in workforce development is
crucial to the ability of Pennsylvania to compete in the global
economy and for Pennsylvanians to stay qualified for the good-
paying jobs of today and the future; and
WHEREAS, Collaboration among the Governor, local governments,
State and local education, training, workforce development,
human services agencies, community colleges, local businesses,
employment-service providers, community-based organizations,
labor unions and local workforce development boards provides for
long-term, sustainable and successful workforce and an
economically healthy Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, The 22 local workforce development boards, over 50
PA CareerLink centers and the thousands of workforce development
system partners are a driving force to employment and
reemployment pathways by providing career readiness training and
assistance; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of September
2020 as "Workforce Development Month" in Pennsylvania.
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