Taylor Maag, Director of Workforce Development Policy and the New Skills for a New Economy Project at the Progressive Policy Institute, released the following statement ahead of Labor Day.
“As Americans across the country begin to celebrate this Labor Day, we must remember the reason for the long weekend — American workers. While we have made tremendous strides over the last century when Labor Day became a federal holiday, workers are still facing increased challenges navigating the economy and the rapidly-changing labor market from automation and technological innovation.
“This year, instead of a generic Labor Day statement, PPI urges policymakers at all levels of government to recommit to supporting workers across our nation. This recommitment does not mean pouring more dollars into the status quo, but focusing on quality skill development strategies and supportive services, such as deploying new and innovative policies that help workers navigate the ever-evolving nature of our workforce.
“America must invest in workers at an early age and continue to support them throughout their careers, including expanding apprenticeship programs, establishing more flexible postsecondary programs that better meet the needs or workers and their families, and investing in public and private partnerships to provide new ways of delivery learning that are tied to industry demand.”
Last year, PPI’s New Skills for a New Economy project released a framework, laying out these key priorities, among others, that are needed to create a more worker-centric policy agenda.
New Skills for a New Economy, a project of PPI, seeks to promote workforce development policies that level the playing field for degree and non-degree workers. This project plays a critical role in shaping federal and state workforce policy, weighing in on important debates, key legislation, and helping to lift up new ideas and best practices happening across the country.
The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org. Find an expert at PPI and follow us on Twitter.
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Media Contact: Amelia Fox – afox@ppionline.org
