Hearing of the Innovation and Workforce Development Subcommittee of the House Small Business Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Balderson, Hearing on "Mind the "Skills' Gap: Apprenticeships and Training Programs."

Hearing

Thank you, Chairman Crow, for holding this hearing today, and I especially want to thank you for being flexible with this hearing's timing to accommodate everyone's busy schedules. It's no easy task, and I appreciate your teamwork in ensuring this is a productive hearing for everyone. As a show of thanks, I've brought along a little Buckeye gratitude for you and your staff.

The Small Business Committee has heard many accounts of the skills gap and its detrimental impact on small businesses across the country. According to the National Federation of Independent Business, or NFIB, 86 percent of those hiring or trying to hire reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill. That's not just another statistic; it should be heard as a cry for help from our communities. We know the skills gap is widening; we can feel its effects on our local economies.

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with small business leaders from around the district; these folks were gracious enough to volunteer their time to let me know about some of their community's biggest challenges. Without a doubt, the number one issue they face is workforce development and the lack of available, skilled workers. Today, I intend to learn more about how to address these concerns. What solutions can we, the Congress, offer?

To help close the skills gap, America needs an arsenal of workforce development strategies that balance the immediate needs of employers, long-term career goals of employees, and rapid technological innovation. One of these strategies is apprenticeships, a centuries old practice that combines on-the-job learning with related technical mentorship and instruction.

In the U.S., there are countless industry-led apprenticeship programs, and one formal program run by the Department of Labor, called Registered Apprenticeship. Business and industry leaders have been advocating reforms to facilitate industry-driven, competency-based programs and methods to reduce risks of investment for employers.

In June 2017, President Trump issued Executive Order 13801, which established the Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion, to identify strategies and proposals to promote apprenticeships, especially in high-growth sectors where these programs are underutilized.

I look forward to hearing more about apprenticeships and other workforce development strategies. I am specifically interested in the roles small businesses play as providers and benefactors in these programs, and how we can encourage greater participation.

I appreciate all of the witnesses being here today, especially my constituent, Mr. Gee. I look forward to the testimony.

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