ACCESS Act Mandates Public Campaigns to Steer Youth Toward High-Wage Skilled Trades

The newly introduced Access to Career Counseling for Every Secondary Student Act, or the ACCESS Act, is a short but significant piece of legislation focused on redirecting federal workforce funding to boost awareness of skilled trades. Essentially, this bill requires states to use existing federal funds to launch public service announcements and social media pushes promoting career and technical education (CTE) programs that lead to high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand jobs.

The New Mandate: Making Trades Cool Again

Under Section 2, the bill updates the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which is the main federal law funding job training and career services. The core change is adding a new required activity for states: running public awareness campaigns. This means your state workforce agency now has a federal mandate to spend time and money telling people—especially young adults—that jobs like welding, plumbing, and specialized manufacturing are not just fallback options, but actual growth careers. The goal is to make sure students and job seekers know where the money and demand are right now, rather than just guessing.

Local Boards Must Show the Money

The ACCESS Act doesn’t stop at state-level campaigns; it also tightens up what local workforce development areas must deliver. Local boards are already supposed to provide career counseling, but the bill specifies that these services must now focus on giving out solid labor market data about those high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand jobs. Think of it this way: instead of just generic advice, local career centers must now show you the actual pay scales and job growth forecasts for a specialized electrician versus, say, a general retail manager in your area. This shift is designed to ensure that career advice is grounded in current economic reality, not just old assumptions.

The Real-World Trade-Off

For a young person considering their options, this bill is a clear win. If you’re a high school student or a recent grad, you should start seeing more visible, targeted information about lucrative career paths that don't require a four-year degree and $50,000 in debt. For example, a local workforce center might now specifically highlight that a specialized HVAC technician makes $70,000 a year in the region, using clear data backed by the new law. This helps eligible youth make informed choices based on real earning potential.

However, it’s worth noting where the money for these new campaigns comes from. The bill mandates that states use their existing WIOA funds for this new purpose. WIOA funds are already stretched thin, covering everything from adult literacy programs to job search assistance. While promoting skilled trades is critical, this reallocation means resources might be diverted from other established workforce services. The focus is shifting heavily toward high-skill, high-wage jobs, which could potentially mean less emphasis or resources for job seekers pursuing lower-wage or non-trade careers, even if those jobs are essential to the local economy.