White House issues executive order restructuring federal workforce development programs

Key Takeaways

On April 23, the White House released an executive order titled “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future” directing the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce and Education to develop strategies for enhancing the experience and outcomes of participants in federal workforce and education programs, recommend opportunities for program consolidation and identify underperforming initiatives. Additionally, they are tasked with delivering a plan to create one million new registered apprenticeships.  

What does this mean for counties?

Counties play a vital role in managing federal, state and local funding to support school districts, career centers and technical training programs that equip individuals for high-demand careers. Additionally, counties are involved in 90 percent of the nation’s 550 local workforce development boards, working closely with businesses, industry leaders and community colleges to develop internships, apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs that reflect regional labor market needs. This active collaboration ensures education and training are aligned with both current and future economic opportunities. NACo is closely monitoring proposed changes to federal workforce and education programs to assess their potential impact on county governments.