Policymakers used additional state and federal resources during the pandemic to make a significant investment in the state’s workforce development system. These workforce investments all share a common goal; to address labor shortages in critical sectors and support vocational training programs for underemployed, unemployed, and eligible youth populations. After providing an overview of significant workforce investments in the COVID bills, several themes emerge.

Most Important Things to Know

• Policymakers dedicated $550 million to workforce development programs between both COVID recovery and economic development bills.
• Sector-Based workforce programs received 90 percent of all workforce development funding from both bills.
• Investments were aimed at expanding and diversifying the workforce. 
• We don’t yet know how effective these investments will be.