[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8488-8489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03062]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Presidential Memorandum of January 30, 2014; Job-Driven Training
for Workers
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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On January 30, 2014, President Barack Obama issued a memorandum to
the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of
Education, directing them to develop a specific action plan to make the
workforce and training system more job-driven, integrated, and
effective. This plan is to be provided to the President through the
Vice President within 180 days of the date of this memorandum. The text
of this memorandum reads --
Giving workers the opportunity to acquire the skills that they need
to pursue in-demand jobs and careers is critical to growing our
economy, ensuring that everyone who works hard is rewarded, and
building a strong middle class. Despite recent employment growth, far
too many hard-working individuals still have not been able to find a
job or increase their earnings, and many businesses report difficulty
hiring workers with the right skills for jobs that they want to fill.
It is critical that the Federal Government ensure that its policies
and programs in the workforce and training system are designed to equip
the Nation's workers with skills matching the needs of employers
looking to hire. To achieve this goal, employers must identify the
skills and credentials required for in-demand jobs and help develop
training programs; workers and job seekers must have access to
education and training that meets their unique needs and the
requirements for good jobs and careers; and employers must have easy
ways to find workers who have or can acquire those skills. We must take
steps to ensure that all relevant Federal programs follow such a job-
driven approach to training, and that these programs are accountable
for getting Americans into good jobs and careers as quickly as
possible. That is why I have asked the Vice President to lead a
Government-wide review of relevant Federal programs.
[[Page 8489]]
Therefore, as part of the overall review process led by the Vice
President, I hereby direct as follows:
Section 1. Job-Driven Reform of Federal Employment and Training
Programs. (a) Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum and in
coordination with the Office of the Vice President, the National
Economic Council, the Domestic Policy Council, the Council of Economic
Advisers, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Office
of Management and Budget, the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and
Education (Secretaries), in consultation with other executive
departments and agencies as appropriate, shall develop a specific
action plan, to be provided to me through the Vice President, to make
the workforce and training system more job-driven, integrated, and
effective.
(b) The action plan shall identify concrete steps to make Federal
workforce and training programs and policies more focused on imparting
relevant skills with job-market value, more easily accessed by
employers and job seekers, and more accountable for producing positive
employment and earning outcomes for the people they serve. Such steps
shall be consistent with the following job-driven training principles:
(i) Promoting more active engagement with industry, employers and
employer associations, and worker representatives to identify the
skills and supports workers need, and to make sure those skills are
better communicated to education and training providers, workforce
leaders, job seekers, and policy makers;
(ii) providing support for secondary and post-secondary education
and training entities to equip individuals with the skills,
competencies, and credentials necessary to help them obtain jobs,
increase earnings, and advance their careers;
(iii) making available to workers, job seekers, and employers the
best information regarding job demand, skills matching, supports, and
education, training, and career options, as well as innovative
approaches to training using learning science and advanced technology;
(iv) improving accountability for the outcomes of training
programs, including employment and earnings outcomes;
(v) ensuring better alignment across secondary, post-secondary, and
adult education, and workforce training, including coordinating Federal
programs and promoting foundational skill development for
employability, on-the-job training, and apprenticeship options; and
(vi) encouraging effective regional partnerships among industry,
educators, worker representatives, nonprofits, and the workforce system
to prepare, support, and train youth, unemployed workers, low-skilled
employed adults, and others for career path employment and advancement.
(c) In developing the action plan, the Secretaries shall consult
with industry, employers and employer associations, State and local
leaders, economic development organizations, worker representatives,
education and training providers, workforce leaders, and relevant
nonprofit organizations.
(d) In developing the action plan, the Secretaries shall review
existing evidence of the job training strategies that most effectively
achieve the goals of this memorandum, determine what information is
lacking, and identify future research and evaluation that can be
undertaken to ensure that Federal programs invest in effective
practices.
Sec. 2. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be
construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) The authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the
head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable
law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any
right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in
equity by any party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other
person.
(d) The Secretary of Labor is authorized and directed to publish
this memorandum in the Federal Register.
Dated: February 6, 2014.
Gerri Fiala,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2014-03062 Filed 2-11-14; 8:45 am]
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