This resolution expresses support for designating September 2025 as "National Workforce Development Month" to highlight the importance of job training and skills development initiatives.
Suzanne Bonamici
Representative
OR-1
This resolution expresses strong support for designating September 2025 as "National Workforce Development Month." It signals Congress's intent to strengthen federal job training programs, like WIOA, to better meet current economic needs and address skill gaps. The goal is to improve access to critical training, apprenticeships, and career pathways for millions of Americans seeking economic security.
Congress Backs September 2025 as 'Workforce Development Month,' Signaling Major Job Training Overhaul
This resolution is essentially Congress putting a formal stamp of approval on a big idea: that job training matters and it’s time for an upgrade. Specifically, it supports designating September 2025 as "National Workforce Development Month," but the real action is the signal it sends. This isn’t a law that changes regulations or cuts checks; it’s a commitment to prioritize and strengthen the federal government’s main job training program, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which is due for reauthorization.
The Urgency of the Upgrade
Why the sudden focus on job skills? The resolution lays out the cold, hard numbers: there are currently about 7.4 million jobs sitting empty because employers can’t find people with the right skills. At the same time, many workers worry their current jobs are going to get automated or outsourced. This creates a skills gap that hurts everyone. For a small business owner, it means they can’t expand. For a worker, it means they might be stuck in a low-wage job or facing unemployment down the line. This resolution acknowledges that the current training system needs to catch up to the reality of the modern economy.
Where the Rubber Meets the Road
This resolution is important because it highlights the programs that actually help people. The existing WIOA programs assist about 2.7 million Americans who face significant barriers to employment—think long-term unemployed, people in rural areas, veterans, or those with disabilities. These are the programs that run through American Job Centers, offering career counseling, resume help, and, most importantly, funding for skills training. The resolution notes that over 70% of participants who get career services end up finding employment. By throwing its support behind these programs, Congress is signaling that future legislation will likely boost funding and access to these vital resources.
What This Means for Your Career
If you’re thinking about a career change, looking to upskill, or struggling to find stable work, this resolution is good news. It supports strengthening key pathways like apprenticeships, which combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction—a system that works for everyone from electricians to software developers. It also backs community colleges and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, recognizing them as essential, affordable places to get job-ready skills. This push means that when the new WIOA legislation eventually passes, there should be more money and better options for you to get the training you need, whether you’re a parent trying to re-enter the workforce or a construction worker looking to learn a specialized trade.