The Senate Labor Committee has advanced a set of bills backed by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) aimed at enhancing workforce development in the state. These legislative measures seek to formalize the New Jersey Career Pathways to Opportunities Initiative and bolster the effectiveness of community colleges.
Althea D. Ford, NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs, expressed support for bills A-5183/S-4009 and S-4012 through written testimony. "The New Jersey Council of Community Colleges has done a remarkable job coordinating the efforts of our state’s 18 community colleges to streamline the implementation of workforce training and programmatic opportunities across our state," she stated.
Ford highlighted NJBIA's partnership with NJCCC on the initiative, noting its role in fostering successful workforce development strategies. She pointed out that these projects have led to new collaborations like NJBioFutures, addressing workforce needs in pharmaceuticals and biomanufacturing.
Bill A-5183, sponsored by Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis (D-16), along with bill S-4009 sponsored by Senator Andrew Zwicker (D-16), mandates that the Department of Labor & Workforce Development maintain an annually updated list of industry-valued credentials available online. This list includes degrees, diplomas, certificates, or certifications prioritized by businesses based on labor market data and employer feedback.
Ford described this credential list as a "common-sense strategy" for aligning state education investments with employer needs. It serves as an objective measure to assess if training requirements are being met.
Additionally, NJBIA supports bill S-4012 which proposes a pilot program designed to enhance collaboration between county colleges and workforce development boards. Sponsored by Senator Zwicker, this bill also received unanimous approval from the committee.
