MERCER, Pa. – Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Last Wednesday, Secretary Jerry Oleksiak toured the Mercer County Career Center and highlighted Governor Tom Wolf’s proposed Statewide Workforce, Education, and Accountability Program (SWEAP). The bold workforce development plan invests in Pennsylvanians from birth to retirement and includes expanding job skills training for students and adults.
“Pennsylvania employers need a well-educated and highly-trained workforce,” said Oleksiak. “Career and technology schools, like Mercer County Career Center, provide students and adult learners with the hands-on job training and STEM education they need to be successful, and employers with the skilled workers they need to grow in the 21st-century economy.”
Oleksiak toured some of Mercer County Career Center’s job training programs including welding, precision production metals, computer and information technology, and adult practical nursing programs.
Oleksiak said the governor’s SWEAP plan builds on last year’s successful launch of PAsmart to create a more qualified and highly-skilled workforce. The proposed PAsmart funding includes:
- $20 million to expand computer science and STEM education;
- $7 million to expand apprenticeships;
- $3 million to expand job training through Next Generation Industry Partnerships;
- $6 million to expand adult career and technical education programs; and
- $4 million to expand Manufacturing to Career Training Grants.
Other SWEAP components would enable more children to attend high-quality child care; ensure kids are in school age 6 and stay until age 18; modernize the minimum teacher salary to help address a teacher shortage; expand opportunities for teachers to visit local employers and bring the experience back to the classroom, and increase job training for low-income parents.