News Release
READOUT: First Lady Jill Biden, White House officials help kick off three-day US Department of Labor national workforce development event
WASHINGTON – On May 16, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor welcomed more than 500 key stakeholders to connect with partners from across the broader workforce ecosystem at “ETA Vision 2030: Investing in America’s Workforce,” a three-day event aimed at leveraging the Biden-Harris administration’s investments in infrastructure, climate, and advanced manufacturing sectors to develop talent pipelines and create pathways to good jobs for workers across America.
During the opening plenary session, Senior Advisor to the President for Infrastructure Implementation Mitch Landrieu and Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta discussed how President Biden’s once-in-a-generation investment will help build the economy from the bottom up and the middle out. Landrieu told attendees they are the “tip of the spear” of a committed group of people at the federal, state and local level who must collaborate and share resources to develop the training programs needed to help families create generational wealth.
In the afternoon session, featured speaker First Lady Jill Biden announced the Biden-Harris administration’s new effort to ensure workers across America can access the good jobs created by the President’s “Investing in America” agenda. It includes public and private partnerships in five cities to ensure a diverse and skilled workforce can meet the demand for labor driven by the investments, with plans to replicate the work with partners across the country. Dr. Biden also announced the administration’s Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Sprint to expand and diversify pathways into good jobs and careers in advanced manufacturing.
The event also included an announcement by National League of Cities President and Tacoma, Washington, Mayor Victoria Woodards that 16 cities have been selected for the Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy, in which the department and league will work with these cities to help create a blueprint for America’s cities to connect people to good jobs and employers to skilled workers, while fostering an equitable economy for all workers.
Throughout the day, attendees participated in workshops covering topics such as data problem-solving, building partnerships and balancing oversight and innovation. Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and training Brent Parton emphasized ETA 2030’s vision for leveraging partnerships to build pathways to the jobs that make the critical sectors work.
