The 2015 session is hitting full stride, with the introduction of bills and committees getting past the orientation stage and into the issues.
The first five House bills on this year’s list provide an overview of some things we would like to accomplish. They include:
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Growing additional better-paying jobs for all – House File 1
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Making sure every child receives a world-class education – House File 2
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Protecting aging adults’ quality of life – House File 3
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Refocusing transportation dollars on roads and bridges – House File 4
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Ensuring fair access and affordability in health care – House File 5
One thing I am adamant about is strengthening the link between the first two bills regarding jobs in our state and the way we prepare young people to enter the workforce.
One provision in H.F. 1 incentivizes people who received a degree in and take a job in science, technology, engineering, math or long-term care in parts of our state with high-vacancy rates in these workforce sectors.
That component would be helpful in our area and it should apply to industrial arts as well. I will be advocating that during the process of preparing the bill for passage. What it comes down to is there is a high demand for people with training in the trade industry, yet those avenues often are not presented as well as they should be as attractive options for today’s students.
There are many reasons contributing to what I see as a de-emphasis of the industrial arts in today’s society, but we need electricians, welders, architects, etc., now as much as ever. Our state faces a serious skills gap, where good jobs are going unfilled for too long due to a lack of applicants with skills to match the openings. This also applies to nursing, where a boom in citizens reaching retirement age is making it difficult for facilities to meet staffing needs.
Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development reports have shown 45 percent of businesses in the state indicate a moderate or serious workforce shortage. The most severe gap is with skilled production (58 percent), scientist and engineering (40 percent).
The skills gap is especially pervasive in Greater Minnesota. You can see it in our local towns, where businesses are paying for prospective workers to receive proper training with an agreement they will come back to work with the company once they are up to speed.
Any input citizens of District 13A would like to provide on this wide-ranging issue would be highly appreciated. What are your ideas for bridging the gap between prospective workers and the workforce itself to capitalize on the many talents our citizens possess, putting food on the table and benefitting our state in general? The best way to reach me is by emailing rep.jeff.howe@house.mn.
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