Biden Administration Announce Talent Pipeline Challenge

On Friday, the Biden Administration announced the “Talent Pipeline Challenge,” that would connect employers to organizations that offer job training, such as unions, industry associations, and community colleges.  The effort also encourages state and local government to use funding from the infrastructure law and the American Rescue Plan to invest in opportunities to provide workers with training to support industries that will see increased demand under new infrastructure investment and workers acutely affected by the pandemic.  The initiative will be focused on working with employers and training providers in broadband, construction, and electrification, including electric vehicle charging stations, and battery manufacturing to ensure there is an inclusive pipeline of workers to fill future infrastructure jobs.  The effort will also encourage employers who participate in the challenge to recruit women and workers of color, and to provide services like childcare and transportation assistance.  The Administration plans to hold several upcoming events touting the workforce training investments made under the American Rescue Plan and future projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that collectively are aimed at filling essential jobs in the public sector and the new private-sector jobs created under the infrastructure investments.