Press Releases

Today, Congressman French Hill (R-AR-02) and Congressman Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01) announce the relaunch of the bipartisan Congressional Skilled Workforce Caucus to champion skilled workforce development and inform Members of Congress on issues facing American workers and employers who depend on a trained, capable workforce. Hill and Jackson will serve as Co-Chairs of the caucus for the 119th Congress.The Skilled Workforce Caucus will serve as a forum for Members to coordinate on federal policy priorities related to skilled workforce training, career and technical education, apprenticeships, and the pipeline of workers needed across healthcare, aviation, technology, and the sectors that build and power our nation.

The need is urgent. The construction industry alone is projected to need 349,000 additional workers in 2026, with roughly 41% of the current construction workforce expected to retire by 2031. The healthcare sector faces a parallel crisis, with more than 189,100 registered nurse job openings projected annually through 2034. Across aviation, technology, and energy, the story is the same as demand continues to outpace the pipeline. If left unaddressed, the skilled labor shortage could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars in lost economic output.

Rep. French Hill said, “For decades, we pushed young people toward four-year degrees, which had the unintended consequence of making trade schools and skilled labor look like a second-rate career path. The fact is, our skilled workers are the backbone of our economy, integral to everything that makes this nation great, from our healthcare and technology industries to the workers who build our homes and maintain our infrastructure. While we continue to applaud those who attend our great colleges and universities, this caucus will make sure Congress pays equal attention to the skilled workers who make modern American life possible. I am proud to work with Congressman Jonathan Jackson to ensure their voices are heard in Washington.”

“Our nation needs a skilled workforce prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century economy,” said Rep. Jonathan Jackson. “I am honored to join Rep. Hill in relaunching the Skilled Workforce Caucus to bring Members of Congress together around a shared commitment to strengthening workforce development and expanding opportunity for working families. By investing in career and technical education, apprenticeships, and workforce training, we can create more pathways to family-sustaining careers, close skills gaps across critical industries, and build an economy where prosperity reaches every community.”

Additional caucus members will be announced in the coming weeks.