“A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a digital skills at work grant program.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section declares the purpose of the Act to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to promote digital equity by (1) building digital skills for current and incoming workers in in-demand industries—through capacity-building in postsecondary education, adult education, and workforce development systems to deliver and design such training—to advance access to good jobs and fill 21st-century occupations; and (2) fostering digitally resilient individuals and education and workforce development systems.
This section states congressional findings on workforce digital skills gaps, including that (1) 92% of jobs require digital skills while one-third of workers lack foundational skills needed to enter and succeed, with turnover costs estimated at $25,000 (first year) to more than $78,000 (after five years); (2) more than a quarter of North Carolina business owners surveyed lost competitive advantage due to digital skills shortages; and (3) workers of color are disproportionately affected, with Black workers comprising 12% of overall workers but 15% with no digital skills and 21% with limited skills, and Latino workers comprising 14% overall but 35% with no skills and 20% with limited skills.
This section establishes the Digital Skills at Work Grant Program within the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by inserting new section 172, which directs the Secretary of Labor—in consultation with the Secretaries of Education and Commerce—to award formula grants to States (including outlying areas) that submit complete applications to expand digital workplace skills (i.e., foundational, advanced, applied, industry-specific, and transferable skills for effective technology use on the job) for individuals seeking jobs and those with barriers to employment. Grant amounts are allocated as (1) 50% of total funds based on each State's share of total U.S. population, (2) 25% based on working-age residents (ages 16-64), and (3) 25% based on individuals with indicators of low digital and information literacy skills (i.e., no high school diploma or equivalent, earnings in the bottom two quintiles, or limited English proficiency). State applications must describe grant uses (including accelerated learning models such as integrated education and training, bridge programs, and work-based learning), expenditure periods, budgets, capability to administer, and steps to support digitally resilient systems (i.e., adaptable education and workforce systems with multiple pathways to economic success).