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The Hill
We have to lay
the groundwork for American workers to thrive in a changing economy
By Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio)
The roadmap for a new American economy does not exist in the past, with
old industries and ways of thinking – it must be created now, by us.
While our economy continues to recover, many of our friends, neighbors,
and family members continue to be confronted by a lack of jobs, wage
stagnation, or continued layoffs. Our economy is broken everywhere. The
system no longer works for the American worker.
These current hardships combined with continued globalization and the
rise of automation will threaten and cause job loss for many Americans.
Millions of Americans could have their livelihoods significantly
altered and face considerable economic challenges. To head off this
looming catastrophe, we need to educate our children to succeed in this
changing economy, and create programs that support workers once again.
That is why I am introducing the WORKER Act.
The WORKER Act addresses the rise of automation and technological
advancements by supporting science, technology, engineering and math
(STEM) at all levels beginning with the education of our students. Our
children need to be equipped with 21st century skills if they hope to
compete in the global economy. The WORKER Act will award grants to
support, develop, and implement engineering education programs in
elementary and secondary schools so that students are exposed to a wide
range of possibilities in STEM at a young age. Additionally, this
legislation encourages increased representation of women and minorities
in STEM occupations.
The second goal of the legislation is focused on promoting
apprenticeship training, retraining, and advancing the current American
workforce. Unfortunately, 69 percent of respondents recognized the need
to prepare for new careers by updating their skills, yet only 19
percent enrolled in a training program while unemployed. Too many
unemployed and underemployed Americans struggle with how they will pay
to gain the necessary skills for employment.
The bill expands apprenticeships by promoting public-private
partnerships to encourage industry growth, competitiveness, and
collaboration to improve worker training, retention, and advancement in
targeted infrastructure clusters. It also creates a training voucher
for $8,000 to ensure every American can attend a short-term training
program to receive the skills necessary to stay competitive.
As we continue to assist men and women entering the workforce, we must
also incentivize reemployment by creating a bonus for individuals
currently receiving unemployment benefits. Unfortunately, even if
workers are lucky enough to find new jobs, depressed wages have become
the new norm.
Studies have shown that for men aged 50-61, median hourly wages for
individuals in new employment were 20 percent lower than the median
wage of their previous job. The Act will help older workers receive a
portion of their difference in wages to help smooth the earnings
transition. Eligible workers age 50 or older (age 45 in distressed
communities) who obtain new, full-time employment at wages of less than
$50,000 may receive wage insurance for up to two years to partially
offset earnings losses.
All these programs will give workers a better shot at living a
fulfilling life – for themselves and their families. However, as we
respond to the challenge of globalization we must also acknowledge that
the rise of automation, robots, and artificial intelligence have the
potential to grow the economy and create new opportunities for society
that many of us cannot even imagine. Too often those jobs are only
found in Silicon Valley or New York City. The Worker Act strives to
decentralize those technological opportunities and create jobs and
provide capital investment to communities throughout the country, like
Youngstown and Akron, who are eager and able to support the expansion
of the tech industry and high-growth sectors.
The WORKER Act would create the Distressed Community Investment Agency.
This agency would have the mission of promoting, establishing, and
strengthening venture capital investment in distressed communities
through expenses of grants, contracts, and other agreements with public
and private entities.
For being the wealthiest nation on earth, too many Americans are
struggling with the realities of everyday life—paying their bills,
caring for their family, putting food on the table, and keeping a roof
over their head. The future of our economy, and of the American Dream,
rests in our ability to alleviate this struggle by innovating and
creating new, good-paying jobs where they are needed most. We can’t do
that by tinkering around the edges or sticking to the status quo. We
need bold initiatives to overhaul our economy. The WORKER Act lays the
foundation for current and future generations of American workers to
succeed in a rapidly changing economy.
Ryan represents Ohio's 13th District and is co-chairman of the
Congressional Manufacturing Caucus.
Read this and other articles at The Hill
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