President Trump’s Workforce Executive Order

Last week, an executive order (EO) was announced to direct the federal government to revamp its workforce development programs. The aim is to support reindustrialization, economic growth, and labor empowerment by providing U.S. workers with skills necessary for high-demand, well-paying jobs, particularly in emerging and industrial sectors.  The EO would do the following:

• Strategic Workforce Overhaul: Within 90 days, the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and Education must submit a report identifying opportunities to integrate fragmented federal workforce programs, eliminate ineffective ones, and realign resources to meet the skill demands of growing U.S. industries. This includes recommendations for administrative reforms, program consolidation, and better participant experiences.
• Focus on Alternative Credentials and Upskilling: The report must also address how to promote skills-based hiring by identifying alternatives to four-year degrees and investing in incumbent worker training, especially in areas affected by technological change such as AI.
• Apprenticeship Expansion Goal: Within 120 days, a plan must be delivered to surpass 1 million new active Registered Apprentices, targeting high-growth industries, enhancing program efficiency, and connecting apprenticeships to education systems via federal aid and career technical education laws.
• Transparency and Accountability: Agencies are directed to improve public reporting of workforce development outcomes, particularly employment and earnings data, to ensure programs funded by federal dollars deliver measurable benefits to participants.