§17.Workforce frameworks for critical and emerging technologies
This section defines in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (NIST Act) the terms "competencies" (knowledge and skills), "workforce categories" (high-level grouping of tasks across an organization as defined by work roles), and "workforce framework" (common taxonomy and lexicon for a domain that includes tasks, knowledge, or skills structured into work roles or competency areas).
This section expands the functions of the NIST Director under the NIST Act by adding a new paragraph (14) requiring the Director to develop, maintain, and provide to industry, government, research institutions, nonprofits, labor organizations, and educational institutions workforce frameworks for critical and emerging technologies and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics domains to bolster scientific and technical education, training, and workforce development. The new function requires updates at least every three years (with congressional reports after each review), inclusion of professional/employability skills, support/operations roles (e.g., administration, ethics, supply chain security), career pathway and credential information, consultations with stakeholders, and production of resources in multiple languages. (As background, NIST develops measurement standards and promotes U.S. innovation and competitiveness; workforce frameworks provide standardized descriptions of job roles, tasks, knowledge, and skills to align education, training, and hiring.)
This section further directs the NIST Director to submit to Congress (1) within 180 days of enactment—and subsequently pursuant to the new reporting requirement—a report on the process, proposed changes, consultations, timeline, and incorporation of additional roles for updating the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (i.e., NIST Special Publication 800-181 or successor); and (2) within three years of enactment and every three years thereafter for nine years, in consultation with stakeholders, a report identifying the framework's applications and uses, adoption guidance for employers and educators, usage data, effectiveness for individuals with nontraditional backgrounds, and additional promotion actions.