MSCI Urges House, Senate Leaders To Reauthorize And Reform Perkins Act

The Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) will join the National Association of Manufacturers and other trade associations to send a letter to the leadership of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. 

The letter will call for reauthorization and reform of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. The bill will help educate more Americans so they can develop the skills they need to compete for high-skilled, in-demand jobs. Specifically, the letter will advise that new legislation should improve current law by:

• Aligning career and technical education (CTE) programs to the needs of the regional, state, and local labor market;
• Supporting effective and meaningful collaboration between secondary and postsecondary institutions and employers;
• Increasing student participation in work-based learning opportunities; and
• Promoting the use of industry recognized credentials and other recognized postsecondary credentials.

A skilled workforce is fundamental to a prosperous North American metals industry, yet our industry faces serious education and training challenges that threaten our productivity and competitiveness. This growing “skills gap” makes it increasingly difficult for manufacturers to hire workers qualified for the well-paying jobs our industry provides. A 2015 study found manufacturing companies lose an average $14,000 for every job that goes unfilled for three months or more, and that those vacancies negatively impact employee morale and productivity. Click here to learn more about MSCI’s advocacy agenda for labor and employment-related issues.