Supporting America's Workforce

Supporting and Developing a 21st Century American Workforce
Autos Drive America is committed to giving international automakers’ workers the tools and skills needed to advance their careers while helping to solidify the U.S. auto industry’s competitive edge on the global stage. To address the industry’s growing demand for skilled labor, Autos Drive America supports:

Bipartisan WIOA reauthorization to modernize and streamline federal workforce programs to better serve business and workers:

– In the 118th Congress, the House and Senate negotiated an agreement on the bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act. While the bill unfortunately was not considered before the end of the year, Autos Drive America urges members of Congress to reintroduce and pass the negotiated bill.

– A Stronger Workforce for America Act would take significant steps to provide more direct reskilling and upskilling to American workers, create more opportunities for workers, and improve America’s competitive advantage on the global stage.

Industry-recognized apprenticeship programs to expand workforce opportunities and training for American workers:

– Autos Drive America members offer approximately 140 workforce development programs in the U.S. and 95 percent of automotive assembly operations offer onsite learning facilities. A number of these critical workforce education programs are industry-recognized apprenticeship programs and employer-led opportunities that encourage students to pursue career and technical education while giving current employees opportunities to reskill and upskill their manufacturing competencies.

– During his first term, President Trump’s Department of Labor issued a final rule that established a system for recognizing and advancing the development of high-quality industry recognized apprenticeship programs. In the 118th Congress, the Training America’s Workforce Act (S. 1213), would have codified much of this rule into law and make apprenticeship programs more responsive to industry workforce needs.

Expanded use of Pell grants to provide funding for underserved communities to gain skills and education in manufacturing:

– As the landscape of the workforce continues to evolve, job openings in skilled trades skyrocket, and the demand for specialized skills—in a wide range of industries from manufacturing to construction—grows exponentially, it’s evident that trade schools and industry workforce programs offer viable and lucrative opportunities.

– In the 118th Congress, the U.S. House passed the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act (H.R. 6585) that would expand the use of Pell grants for students and workers enrolled in high-quality, short-term education programs that will lead to career advancement.