Developing a Skilled Workforce for U.S. Leadership in Technological Innovation and Global Competitiveness

The Department of Commerce workforce development strategy supports our mission to:

• Create the conditions for economic growth.
• Invest in existing and emerging technologies critical to our economic competitiveness and national security.

Our Comparative Advantage

The single largest advantage the U.S. has always had over our competitors is the ingenuity, the skills, and the drive of our people. We have been the leader in technological innovation for decades - whether it was the invention of the microprocessor or the Internet. Those transformational technologies, and others like it, happened because of our investment in educating and skilling our people.

Investing in Our Workforce

The Department of Commerce has a very ambitious agenda that is focused on continuing our leadership and competitiveness in key emerging and existing technologies – including investing over $100 billion in the semiconductor industry and research and expanding Internet access across the country. These investments include hundreds of millions for workforce development initiatives.

Our Workforce Development Strategy Principles

Our workforce development strategy is guided by 11 core principles:

• Ensures it is employer-led to better connect skilled workers to quality jobs.
• Includes partners like educational institutions, labor unions, and community-based and economic development organizations.
• Offers wrap-around services to support vulnerable populations.
• Increases educational and workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Prioritizes proven earn-and-learn models like Registered Apprenticeships.
• Leads to stackable, industry-recognized credentials.
• Measures outcomes such as workers’ employment and earnings.
• Builds sustainable systems and partnerships.
• Connects workforce development to economic development.
• Coordinates across the federal government.
• Encourages other government and private funding.