September is Workforce Development Month, first celebrated in 2005 to raise awareness about the importance of our industry to a growing national economy. The month celebrates the contributions of workforce professionals and highlights events and initiatives that support job seekers and employers.
From résumé building and interview preparation to connecting job seekers to local employers and community colleges, Goodwill provides a range of services that help job seekers find good, sustainable jobs. At a time when millions of people are looking for work, Goodwill is working to help people in our local community obtain the needed job skills and training to secure employment, obtain self-sufficiency and experience upward economic mobility.
Last year, the services Goodwill provided helped nearly 1.7 million people throughout North America with job training and job placement services. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s latest jobs report, unemployment is currently at 4.2%. Still, millions of workers across the country struggle with underemployment and low wages, and nearly 7.7 million jobs currently remain unfilled.
Equipping workers with the education and training needed to fill in-demand jobs is key to ensuring America can continue to thrive and grow. Congress has an opportunity to advance these objectives by passing bipartisan workforce legislation. Modernizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and expanding Pell Grant eligibility would strengthen America’s workforce development system and better prepare students and workers for their careers. In addition to advocating for more investments in workforce programs and reauthorizing WIOA, Goodwill is committed to doing its part in responding to the gap in employment and skills training and supporting those individuals who face barriers to finding good-paying employment today.
