WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, delivered the following statement at today’s hearing entitled “A Record Six Million U.S. Job Vacancies: Reasons and Remedies.”  Ranking Member Heinrich emphasized in his opening statement the importance of investing in education and training options in order for workers to remain competitive in the future economy.

Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Thank you, Chairman Tiberi, and thank you to our panel for being here today. 

The employment picture is brighter than it was eight years ago, but not as bright as we want or need.

Too many Americans can’t find a job, or are in jobs that pay wages too low to achieve financial security. 

Employers complain they can’t find candidates with the right skills to grow their business.

And some parts of the country – like many rural areas – have largely been left out and need basic investment.

Today, we are focusing on one way to create opportunities for more Americans – namely, by investing in education and training options. 

Some industries in some regions of the country face a mismatch between the skills employers need and the skills workers have.

Addressing this is important, but that alone won’t improve the economy or strengthen financial security for families and communities. 

To do that, Congress must work with state and local leaders to take an all-of-the-above approach that supports workers and businesses. 

In the 21st Century economy, college is increasingly important for financial security. 

Congress has a significant role to play in making sure students are not priced out of the future they want and are ready to work for. Access to an affordable college degree must be available to every student.

We also know that a college degree is not the only path to a bright future.

Career and technical education, apprenticeships and other training programs lead to good-paying jobs.  

Here, community colleges have an important role to play because they understand the needs of local employers, are committed to creating opportunities for their students, and can design programs and courses that are responsive to employers’ current and future needs.

TechHire Albuquerque launched earlier this year in New Mexico.

Using a federal grant program, Central New Mexico Community College partnered with employers and state agencies to create an IT pipeline – by providing training, work experience, and job placement. 

Graduates learn new computer coding skills, earn industry-recognized credentials, and are able to put those skills to use with area employers.

Employers are able to fill open positions with candidates with proven skills.

That’s the type of innovation and creative problem-solving Congress should be promoting. 

It’s also critical that we target training at high-growth sectors of the economy.

That’s what Central New Mexico Community College has done with its STEMulus center, offering coding bootcamps and new classes in Java, Android and Saleforce.

This week, I introduced the CHANCE in Tech Act, which encourages educators and businesses to start apprenticeship programs for the tech sector. This will connect more Americans to a growing sector where jobs are opening up every day.

In an all-of-the-above approach, we must recognize that investing in the workforce starts well before college or even high school.  It starts by investing in proven programs that set children up for success later in life.

This is why access to universal pre-K is so important and why I am a strong advocate of the two-generation approach, which provides quality early education for children while providing workforce training for parents.

We’ve seen this work in New Mexico.  The United Way's Early Learning Center in Santa Fe offers year-round, full-day services for children alongside technology, employment and social service assistance for parents. 

For workers to remain competitive in the future economy, learning and skills development must continue over a lifetime. 

Companies must get back in the business of investing in their workers.  Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s the prosperous thing to do for businesses and workers alike.

There is much work for us do here.  For the nation to be competitive in the future economy, we must find new solutions.

I look forward to hearing from our witnesses.