Job-Driven Training for Workers

This memorandum directs the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and Education to develop within 180 days an action plan to reform federal workforce and training programs to be more "job-driven," emphasizing employer engagement, skills matching, accountability for employment outcomes, and better alignment across education and training systems. The Vice President is tasked with leading a government-wide review of relevant federal programs.

Federal Register Open PDF 79 FR 7041

Impact dates

Jul 29, 2014
Action plan due to President through Vice President

Key directives

Vice President to lead government-wide review of relevant federal programs
Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and Education to develop specific action plan within 180 days
Action plan must identify concrete steps to make federal workforce and training programs more job-driven, integrated, and effective
Action plan must be provided to President through Vice President
Secretaries must consult with broad range of stakeholders in developing plan
Secretaries must review existing evidence and identify future research needs
Secretary of Labor to publish memorandum in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Memorandum issued; Vice President begins government-wide review
Secretaries directed to begin developing action plan

Near term (90d)

Consultations with industry, employers, state/local leaders, education providers, and nonprofits
Review of existing evidence on effective job training strategies

Long term

Action plan due to President through Vice President by late July 2014
Potential restructuring of federal workforce and training programs based on plan

Risks & tensions

Coordination challenge across three cabinet departments plus multiple White House offices
No new funding appropriated; implementation constrained by 'subject to availability of appropriations'
Vague enforcement mechanism for accountability principles
Potential tension between rapid job placement goals and longer-term career advancement