[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2014)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 7041-7043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02624]



[[Page 7039]]

Vol. 79

Wednesday,

No. 24

February 5, 2014

Part III





The President





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Memorandum of January 30, 2014--Job-Driven Training for Workers



Memorandum of January 31, 2014--Enhancing Safeguards To Prevent the 
Undue Denial of Federal Employment Opportunities to the Unemployed and 
Those Facing Financial Difficulty Through No Fault of Their Own
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 24 / Wednesday, February 5, 2014 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 7041]]

                Memorandum of January 30, 2014

                
Job-Driven Training for Workers

                Memorandum for the Secretary of Labor[,] the Secretary 
                of Commerce[, and] the Secretary of Education

                Giving workers the opportunity to acquire the skills 
                that they need to pursue in-demand jobs and careers is 
                critical to growing our economy, ensuring that everyone 
                who works hard is rewarded, and building a strong 
                middle class. Despite recent employment growth, far too 
                many hard-working individuals still have not been able 
                to find a job or increase their earnings, and many 
                businesses report difficulty hiring workers with the 
                right skills for jobs that they want to fill.

                It is critical that the Federal Government ensure that 
                its policies and programs in the workforce and training 
                system are designed to equip the Nation's workers with 
                skills matching the needs of employers looking to hire. 
                To achieve this goal, employers must identify the 
                skills and credentials required for in-demand jobs and 
                help develop training programs; workers and job seekers 
                must have access to education and training that meets 
                their unique needs and the requirements for good jobs 
                and careers; and employers must have easy ways to find 
                workers who have or can acquire those skills. We must 
                take steps to ensure that all relevant Federal programs 
                follow such a job-driven approach to training, and that 
                these programs are accountable for getting Americans 
                into good jobs and careers as quickly as possible. That 
                is why I have asked the Vice President to lead a 
                Government-wide review of relevant Federal programs.

                Therefore, as part of the overall review process led by 
                the Vice President, I hereby direct as follows:

                Section 1. Job-Driven Reform of Federal Employment and 
                Training Programs. (a) Within 180 days of the date of 
                this memorandum and in coordination with the Office of 
                the Vice President, the National Economic Council, the 
                Domestic Policy Council, the Council of Economic 
                Advisers, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, 
                and the Office of Management and Budget, the 
                Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and Education 
                (Secretaries), in consultation with other executive 
                departments and agencies as appropriate, shall develop 
                a specific action plan, to be provided to me through 
                the Vice President, to make the workforce and training 
                system more job-driven, integrated, and effective.

                    (b) The action plan shall identify concrete steps 
                to make Federal workforce and training programs and 
                policies more focused on imparting relevant skills with 
                job-market value, more easily accessed by employers and 
                job seekers, and more accountable for producing 
                positive employment and earning outcomes for the people 
                they serve. Such steps shall be consistent with the 
                following job-driven training principles:

(i) promoting more active engagement with industry, employers and employer 
associations, and worker representatives to identify the skills and 
supports workers need, and to make sure those skills are better 
communicated to education and training providers, workforce leaders, job 
seekers, and policy makers;

(ii) providing support for secondary and post-secondary education and 
training entities to equip individuals with the skills, competencies, and

[[Page 7042]]

credentials necessary to help them obtain jobs, increase earnings, and 
advance their careers;

(iii) making available to workers, job seekers, and employers the best 
information regarding job demand, skills matching, supports, and education, 
training, and career options, as well as innovative approaches to training 
using learning science and advanced technology;

(iv) improving accountability for the outcomes of training programs, 
including employment and earnings outcomes;

(v) ensuring better alignment across secondary, post-secondary, and adult 
education, and workforce training, including coordinating Federal programs 
and promoting foundational skill development for employability, on-the-job 
training, and apprenticeship options; and

(vi) encouraging effective regional partnerships among industry, educators, 
worker representatives, nonprofits, and the workforce system to prepare, 
support, and train youth, unemployed workers, low-skilled employed adults, 
and others for career path employment and advancement.

                    (c) In developing the action plan, the Secretaries 
                shall consult with industry, employers and employer 
                associations, State and local leaders, economic 
                development organizations, worker representatives, 
                education and training providers, workforce leaders, 
                and relevant nonprofit organizations.
                    (d) In developing the action plan, the Secretaries 
                shall review existing evidence of the job training 
                strategies that most effectively achieve the goals of 
                this memorandum, determine what information is lacking, 
                and identify future research and evaluation that can be 
                undertaken to ensure that Federal programs invest in 
                effective practices.

                Sec. 2. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this 
                memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise 
                affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head 
thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent 
                with applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does 
                not, create any right or benefit, substantive or 
                procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any 
                party against the United States, its departments, 
                agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or 
                agents, or any other person.

[[Page 7043]]

                    (d) The Secretary of Labor is authorized and 
                directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal 
                Register.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    Washington, January 30, 2014.

[FR Doc. 2014-02624
Filed 2-4-14; 11:15 am]
Billing code 4510-23