Senator Murray: “When we talk about workforce development, all we’re really talking about is creating opportunity. And in my experience, great things happen in our communities when we provide those opportunities.”
***WATCH VIDEO OF THE EVENT HERE***
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, held a virtual roundtable with local leaders, workforce development experts, and apprentices from Snohomish County on how federal COVID-19 relief has helped strengthen workforce development programs, and created more opportunities for workers in Washington state. During the event, Senator Murray underscored her continued push to build an economy that works for everyone through high-quality workforce development programs, including registered apprenticeships, to give workers the skills and training they need for career success.
“I remember when I was growing up—with six siblings by the way—when my dad got sick, and my mom had to step up to provide for our entire family on her own. But thanks to a federal program, my mom was able to go back to school and get a higher paying job to support our family. So I know firsthand what a difference it makes when we have people’s back during tough times rather than saying ‘You’re on your own,’” said Senator Murray. “When we talk about workforce development, all we’re really talking about is creating opportunity. And in my experience, great things happen in our communities when we provide those opportunities: parents can better support their families, people can invest in themselves and their careers, and employers can hire workers with the skills they need to be successful.”
During the roundtable, Senator Murray noted that while Washington state has made progress in building back stronger from the pandemic, economic recovery has still been unequal for many workers in the state—including Black workers, whose unemployment rate is currently twice that of white workers or for women who have accounted for almost two-thirds of jobs lost during this pandemic. In addition, Murray emphasized that many working families have too long been left behind and unable to go to a job or participate in workforce development programs due to a lack of affordable child care options where they live. Senator Murray stressed that in order to rebuild an economy that works for working people, we must ensure everyone can access the workforce development opportunities they need for long-term success.
“As we recover from this pandemic, I really think we can do so much better than simply returning to a normal that wasn’t working for working families,” continued Senator Murray. “This is why our nation’s workforce development programs are so important. High-quality workforce development programs, including registered apprenticeships, can help people grow in their careers or develop new skills and start new careers. I’m working right now to find bipartisan ways, to continue investing in workforce development, and your stories and perspectives today will help shape my work in the other Washington on these issues.”
Senator Murray was joined during the event by Dave Somers, Executive of Snohomish County; Joy Emory, Chief Executive Officer of Workforce Snohomish; James Henderson, Chief of Economic and Workforce Development in Snohomish County; Jennifer Carlson, Executive Director of Washington Technology Industry Association’s (WTIA) Workforce Institute; and Karalynn Partain, an apprentice at WTIA’s Tech Academy.
A longtime champion for workers, Senator Murray has fought to secure investments for workforce development programs to create more high-quality career pathways for Washington state workers. Murray was instrumental in pushing for passage of the CARES Act, which included millions in federal dollars to help workers across the country make it through the pandemic. Last month, Senator Murray led a HELP Committee hearing on supporting workers who face systemic challenges finding good, high-paying jobs by ensuring they have access to high-quality workforce development opportunities. In September, Senator Murray helped to secure a $1 million federal grant to support workforce development programs in Western Washington.
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