Alabama State Officials have announced a new package of bills and legislation designed to grow the state’s workforce economy.
The nation is using Alabama as a model for its incentives.
Helena Duncan, President & CEO of the Business Council of Alabama
With Alabama being charged as the workforce engine of the southeast and ranking #6 in the country for new business growth, it is imperative that the state provides its residents with the tools to be prepared for its rapidly evolving workforce.
The new legislation package is aimed at not only addressing the lack of skilled workers in the state by bringing back vocational trade education into high schools but removing barriers like the cost of childcare to incentivize Alabamians to reenter the workforce. All new bills are designed to provide Alabamians with workforce solutions that are steady, efficient and reliable.
Here’s a high-level overview of the new tools in Alabama’s workforce toolbox:
The Workforce Transformation Act
This act aims to merge and consolidate duplicate workforce agencies, provide industry-level board representation and provide clear budget request recommendations and consolidate spending.
The Workforce Pathways Act
This act promotes new diploma programs that focus on trades so that high school students can receive hands-on training in growing industries and gain the credentials to confidently enter the workforce. This act also provides a $4,500 stipend for high school students to have dual enrollment in between their high school and the Alabama Community College System to place them on a fast track for career success.
The Alabama Innovative District Act
This act empowers citizen counties to incentivize new business growth in their areas by providing abatement and sales tax breaks that benefit both residents and businesses.
Childcare Tax Credit
Nearly 43% of Alabama’s able-bodied residents are not active in the workforce, and the rise in childcare costs has made a noticeable impact. To combat this, Alabama is proposing a $2,000 child tax credit that will be paid to the employee for childcare coverage or directly to childcare providers to help increase the workforce participation rate.
EBSCOed and the Alabama Talent Triad are the national-leading tools being leveraged to move workforce innovation forward in the state by connecting government agencies, educational institutions, businesses and jobseekers.
