Rep. Kulp
State Representative Bob Kulp (R-Stratford) has been picked by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to chair the Workforce Readiness Task Force. Kulp said the committee will facilitate the training of a skilled workforce to help fill the many good-paying jobs that are going empty.
“It’s a labor shortage, not a job shortage,” he said. “I believe that every employer I’ve spoken to is saying, ‘we have jobs,’ and they’re paying far more than minimum wage.”
The task force will focus on collaborations between high schools, tech. schools and employers to help streamline the process of filling jobs. “Primarily reducing barriers, looking at improving collaboration, improving messaging, and really seeing what we can do to help get those workers to the available jobs,” Kulp said.
Kulp said more attention will be focused on improving the image of jobs that are often overlooked, like those in manufacturing and construction. “Trying to somehow re-market the perception that manufacturing, construction are dark, dirty, and dead-end. They really are anything but that.”
Vos has also appointed members to task forces on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and Urban Education.
WSAU