Recommendation #2 is to strengthen worker-centered sector strategies and other partnerships between employers, labor organizations, community colleges, and other training providers to grow and diversify the bioworkforce. “These partners collaborate to analyze their regional labor market, anticipate future job and skill needs, develop and implement education and training programs, and recruit and support a diverse pool of workers.”
Recommendation #3 encourages the bioindustries to develop and rigorously evaluate innovative approaches to education and training. “Ideally, education and training programs should be structured as part of a career pathway— allowing students and workers to transition between work and structured learning (on and off the job) as they progress through their careers.”
Recommendation #4 is to partner with state, local, and Tribal governments, education and training providers, bioscience associations, unions, other worker-serving organizations, and other stakeholders to raise awareness about the promise and potential of careers in the bioworkforce. “Many students and workers—including women, people of color, youth, and others underrepresented in the bioworkforce—are unaware of the career opportunities that exist in the bioworkforce—including those that do not require a four-year degree.”
Recommendation #5 calls for improving data and analytic capacity and cross-sector collaboration to advance equity and support effective workforce development, including developing industry-recognized credentials and competency models. “Effective and equitable workforce development depends on a clear understanding of employers' real-time job, skill, and credential needs. With this data, employers, unions, education and training providers, and other stakeholders can assess the extent to which workers of all backgrounds already possess the required skills and whether education and training programs will effectively prepare workers for good jobs.”