Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act

Labor and Employment
senate
house
president

Introduced on April 17, 2024 by Timothy Michael Kaine

Legislation Details

  • Establishes the “Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act” to promote digital equity and skill development.
  • Aims to build digital skills among current and incoming workers in in-demand industries.
  • Seeks to foster digitally resilient individuals and education/workforce development systems.
  • Notes that a significant percentage of jobs require digital skills, yet many workers lack foundational digital skills.
  • Highlights the disproportionate impact of digital skills gaps on workers of color.
  • Amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to include a digital skills at work grant program.
  • Defines terms related to the program, including digital equity, digital and information literacy skills, and digitally resilient.
  • Requires the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretaries of Education and Commerce, to award grants to states for expanding digital workplace skills.
  • Specifies how grant amounts will be determined and requires states to submit applications detailing their use of funds.
  • Allows for grants to be awarded to eligible entities if a state does not apply or submit a complete application.
  • States must use grant funds to award subgrants to eligible entities focusing on expanding digital workplace skills, with priority given to assisting individuals with barriers to employment.
  • Requires states and eligible entities to report on their activities and the effectiveness of the program.
  • Authorizes competitive grants to eligible entities for fostering digital equity and resilience, detailing application requirements and accountability measures.
  • Reserves a portion of funds for technical assistance, administration, and evaluation of the program.
  • Authorizes appropriations for the digital skills at work grants for fiscal year 2024 and the following four years.
  • Includes training in digital and information literacy skills as part of training services under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
  • Makes a conforming amendment to the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.

Last updated 9/18/2024