10th Anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week Coming Soon
Washington Update
National Apprenticeship Week
The 10th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is coming up, November 17-23, and this year’s theme is “National Apprenticeship Week 2024: Celebrating 10 Years of Engagement, Expansion, and Innovation.” This theme reflects the transformative power of Registered Apprenticeship and its ability to bring together key national, regional, state, and local stakeholders across the country to meet critical workforce needs and give career seekers a jumpstart to their career. Since NAW’s inception in 2015, Registered Apprenticeship has gained increased recognition as a tool to create the highly skilled workforce necessary to modernize our country’s infrastructure, build clean energy technologies, strengthen our cybersecurity defense ecosystem, and build a stronger care economy, while also creating essential on-ramps for career seekers to enter into robust career pathways.
NAW is a nationwide celebration where employers, industry representatives, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, educational institutions, and federal, state, and local government agencies host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for strengthening our economy by developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry needs, creating pathways for career seekers to catapult into good jobs, and advancing racial and gender equity.
During NAW 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor will highlight the following key themes:
Monday, November 18: Youth and Young Adult Apprenticeship Day
Tuesday, November 19: Registered Apprenticeship in New and Emerging Industries and Around the Globe
Wednesday, November 20: Expanding Registered Apprenticeship to Underserved Populations
Thursday, November 21: Women in Apprenticeship
Friday, November 22: Federal Apprenticeship and Veterans in Apprenticeship
Click here for more information and resources on how you can get involved in NAW.
DOL Independent Contractor Rule
On Wednesday, October 30, Texas Judge Marica Crone ordered the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the business groups challenging the Biden Administration’s independent contractor rule to submit briefs outlining potential implications of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the Chevron doctrine. The one-page order directed the sides to respond by November 20 and limit their filings to 20 pages. The case was originally filed back in 2021 to prevent the Biden administration from withdrawing a Trump-era worker classification standard but was subsequently reworked earlier this year after DOL issued a new independent contractor regulation.
Click here to access the final rule.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
In August, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized regulations requiring wage increases for some Head Start educators by 2031. However, these regulations will need additional appropriations from Congress to enable local programs nationwide to comply with the new mandates, or they risk reducing the number of children served in classrooms. HHS included some flexibility for compliance to help prevent the loss of slots, but if Congress fails to provide an annual average increase of 1.3 percent in appropriations over the next four years, the HHS Secretary may waive the wage requirements. This increase threshold is modest, and Congress has exceeded a 1.3 percent annual increase in recent fiscal years. HHS staff stated that the regulations align with historical trends in congressional appropriations, and they argue that the new requirements address longstanding issues raised by lawmakers, such as the need to recruit and retain a highly qualified workforce.
Click here to access the final regulations.
U.S. Department of Commerce
On Wednesday, October 30, the U.S. Department of Commerce released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for activities that will use cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous experimentation (AE) technologies to support the long-term viability of next-generation semiconductor manufacturing. The CHIPS AI/AE for Rapid, Industry-informed Sustainable Semiconductor Materials and Processes (CARISSMA) funding opportunity will be critical in meeting the industry’s technology, economic, and sustainability goals. On November 8, CHIPS for America will host a webinar to provide general information regarding the NOFO, offer general guidance on preparing applications, and answer questions. On November 15, the CHIPS Research and Development Office will host a one-day hybrid meeting for potential applicants to this funding opportunity.
Through industry-informed, university-based collaborations, this investment will seek to demonstrate that new sustainable semiconductor materials and processes that meet industry needs can be designed and adopted for industry testing within five years. The investment will also expand the number of universities, researchers, and graduates participating in the U.S. semiconductor R&D ecosystem while helping increase the sustainability of semiconductor manufacturing. To accomplish this, CHIPS for America anticipates that the total federal funds available under CARISSMA will be up to approximately $100 million, with individual awards ranging from approximately $20 million to $40 million.
Expected participants include teams of universities and other research entities with significant experience in artificial intelligence-powered autonomous experimentation (AI/AE); semiconductor industry partners; emerging research institutions; and civil society organizations focused on environmental sustainability or human health and safety. AI/AE combines automated synthesis and characterization tools with an AI “planner” to determine the next round of an experimental campaign, vastly accelerating the design of new materials and the acquisition of materials data. Boosting capacity at emerging research institutes will greatly increase the number of undergraduate and graduates participating in semiconductor related R&D. To help build a strong and ready workforce, applicants for this funding opportunity must show how their projects will develop and expand the number of domestic researchers skilled in AI/AE methods relevant to the semiconductor industry materials and processes.
Click here to access the NOFO.
Click here to read the full press release.
Click here to register for the November 8th virtual event.
Child Care Legislation
If Democrats take control of the House in the November election, child care reform could become a legislative priority. House Education and the Workforce Committee ranking member Bobby Scott (VA) has emphasized the importance of making child care more affordable, proposing a cap at 7 percent of a family’s income through his Child Care for Working Families Act. Committee member Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR) has echoed the need for substantial investment in child care infrastructure saying “It’s very unaffordable right now” and that “providers aren’t paid enough, and tuition costs can’t be raised further without making it inaccessible for families.” Bonamici stressed the need for investment in order to grow the caregiver workforce. As the new year approaches, child care affordability and accessibility remain critical issues, with Democratic lawmakers preparing to advocate for expanded support if they gain the House majority.
Unemployment Rate
On Friday, November 1, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the October unemployment report, which showed nonfarm payrolls increased by 12,000 — down sharply from the September numbers and below the Dow Jones estimate of 100,000. The October report was the smallest gain since December 2020. The unemployment rate, however, held at 4.1%, in line with expectations. A broader measure for unemployment that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time jobs for economic reasons also was unchanged at 7.7%. In the report narrative, BLS noted that the Boeing strike likely subtracted 44,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector, which lost 46,000 positions overall.
In last week’s job report, the BLS announced that it is walking back its decision to cut the sample size of its household survey thanks to funding from Congress in its recent stopgap funding bill. In June, BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer had announced that the survey would reduce its sample size by 5,000 households to 55,000 total due to increasing survey costs amid declining response rates.
Click here to access the report.
Click here to read Acting Secretary of Labor Su’s statement on the October jobs report.
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