Giving Compass' Take:

· The Associated Press discusses a new report about job training in California. Many advocates are urging the state's governor-elect Gavin Newsom to adopt a stronger workforce development agenda. 

• How could the strategies listed here apply to other states? What elements of workforce training are universal?

• Read more about job training and rethinking the school-to-work pipeline with technical education. 

Asserting that job training is key to closing California’s economic divide, forty groups including colleges, unions, philanthropic organizations, and organizations representing workers and businesses are urging governor-elect Newsom to adopt a workforce development agenda that would connect more people to good jobs and grow a skilled and diverse workforce.

The groups have endorsed a new report entitled Securing a Strong Economic Future for all Californians that offers nine strategies on how California can develop a world-class workforce development system that would increase the state’s economic growth and boost California businesses by promoting opportunity for all Californians to get the education and training they need to move into better-paying careers. Suggested strategies include:

Supporting community organizations able to expand high-quality, relevant job training and support services to people working to fulfill their career aspirations; Removing barriers to training, education, and employment for people overcoming homelessness, exiting incarceration, or surmounting other significant challenges; Increasing earn and learn models like apprenticeship and training Californians to build and maintain the next generation of the state’s infrastructure; Developing public-private partnerships between employers and the state’s education and training systems to support career advancement for low-wage workers; and Making education and training more affordable through financial aid that covers expenses like training supplies, child care, and transportation.

Read the full article about job training in California at the Associated Press.