Wilhelm praises Iowa Senate workforce bill

State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm of Cresco is praising the Iowa Senate's passage of legislation to help Iowa workers and employers rebound from the national recession.  Senate Bill 2024 invests $20 million a year for three years to identify skilled job shortages and help Iowans gain the skills to fill them.  

"Iowa's economy is recovering, but it will recover faster and stronger when Iowa employers are able to find the skilled workers they need," said Wilhelm.

Legislators have been told that there are currently more than 500 skilled welding positions in Iowa that are unable to be filled.  The shortage of information technology workers is another drag on the Iowa economy.  The Iowa Association of Business and Industry is one of several business groups supporting the effort.

"If Iowa employers can't find the skilled workers they need here in Iowa, they can choose to lose business to competitors, hire people in some other state or country or move out of Iowa," said Wilhelm.  "A better choice for Iowa is to identify skilled job shortages and helping Iowans fill them."

The legislation allows students in local workforce shortage areas to apply for "Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grants."  The Gap Assistance Program will help "fill the gap" so Iowans can earn recognized certificates and professional licenses at community colleges, the sort of non-credit classes which are ineligible for federal financial aid.  The Pathways for Academic Career and Employment initiative identifies local job openings and coordinates various efforts to help nontraditional students qualify for them.