Workforce Development Policy Committee

Committee Overview

The Workforce Development Policy Committee works to identify key issues in our region’s employment pipeline and enhance educational and training opportunities for students and workers to be prepared for current and future high-demand employment.

Memberships

The Workforce Development Policy Committee is cochaired by:

  • James Denova, Special Projects, Intermediate Unit 1
  • Ami Gatts, President, Washington Greene County Job Training Agency, Inc.

Click here for a complete list of committee members.

The Workforce Development Policy Committee is carefully crafted to be balanced and represent a variety of stakeholders. However, we occasionally have spots available for members in certain sectors who may be underrepresented on the committee. Please contact Briana Mihok at 412-624-7792 or bnd2@pitt.edu if you have an interest in serving as a member.

Summary of Current Initiatives

The Workforce Development Policy Committee is currently examining how to increase access to and equity in dual enrollment, early college high school, pre-apprenticeship, and apprenticeship programs across Pennsylvania.

In March 2023, the Institute of Politics Task Force on Equity in Dual Enrollment and Pre-apprenticeship Programming sponsored a forum designed to offer school district administrators, representatives of postsecondary education, community leaders, and elected officials learn more about the opportunities to advance dual enrollment in Pennsylvania. Click here to learn more about the initiative to advance college and career readiness in Pennsylvania through equitable dual enrollment policy, practice, and research.

In 2020, the committee released its report, Prepared for the Future, which offers historical data on the prevalance of these programs in the commonwealth and offers recommendations for moving forward. At the beginning of 2021, the committee commissioned the creation of the Task Force on Equity in Dual Enrollment and Pre-apprenticeship Programs and charged it with developing actionable recommendations for state policy in relation to increasing equity in and access to dual enrollment and pre-apprenticeship programs in the commonwealth.

Ongoing and/or Completed Projects

CareerLink

In November, 2012, the committee decided to take an in-depth look at CareerLinks in Southwestern Pennsylvania and examine best practices among the various offices. Institute staff embarked on a listening tour among the three workforce investment boards in Southwesten Pennsylvania and looked at operations in offices in all three areas. Staff also conducted benchmarking in Washington State. The initial report was presented to the committee in April 2013. Additional efforts were made in the summer of 2013 to determine what changes might be possible in the state Department of Labor and Industry that would have a positive impact on CareerLink operations at the local level.

Ready-to-Work Grant Opportunity

In May 2014, the committee discussed an opportunity for funding from the federal government that would assist the long-term unemployed in finding permanent employment by pairing job training/retraining with soft skills and any needed human services, along with coaches/mentors that would help them move through the process. The committee charged Institute staff with investigating this model and putting together a potential proposal for action if funding for such an activity became available again in the future.

Publications

The following publications issued by the Institute are related to the focus areas of the Workforce Development Committee: