U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Workforce Development
  1. Home
  2. Issues

Workforce Development

The Department of Commerce’s mission is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities. Essential to that mission is the need to build sustainable, employer-driven career pathways to meet employers’ need for talent and to connect Americans to quality jobs. As outlined in its strategic plan, the Department of Commerce has a three-pronged approach to this work:

  1. Invest in employer-driven regional workforce education and training systems that lead to quality jobs.
  2. Foster transformative employer practices to address their challenges in recruiting and developing a diverse, skilled workforce.
  3. Produce and disseminate timely, clear data and information to help Americans discover and participate in opportunities for skills development and economic advancement.

The Department’s workforce development agenda is guided by a set of best practices and principles. Highly effective workforce investments:

  • Are employer led to ensure skilled workers are connected to quality job opportunities.
  • Are guided by multiple community partners such as educational institutions, labor unions, community-based organizations, and economic development organizations.
  • Include wrap-around services to support the most vulnerable populations.
  • Increase educational and workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Prioritize proven earn and learn models like Registered Apprenticeships.
  • Lead to stackable, industry-recognized credentials and ensure that information about credentials is publicly accessible through the use of linked open data formats that support full transparency and interoperability. 
  • Measure and evaluate outcomes such as workers’ employment and earnings. Ensure that data is transparent, actionable, and linked back to those executing programs.
  • Build sustainable systems and partnerships that endure to serve employers and workers beyond the federal investment.
  • Connect workforce development to economic development.
  • Are coordinated across the federal government.
  • Encourage the use of other government and private funding.
Related Tags
Apprenticeships
Workforce Development

Related Content

Commerce Department Announces Monthly Spotlight on Women and the Labor Force

Press releases
New dashboard to provide updated data alongside the monthly jobs report release Today, the Department of Commerce’s Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs (OUSEA) is announcing a new spotlight on women and the labor force. The dashboard will reflect new data each month, alongside the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly release on the employment situation . “The Department’s new...
Investing in communities and workers
Workforce Development
Secretary Gina Raimondo

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Stresses Importance of Training Students for the Manufacturing Jobs of the Future

Blog
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo tours Austin Community College's IMPACT Lab.
Earlier this week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo traveled to Austin, Texas where she toured Austin Community College (ACC) to see first-hand how they are equipping students with the knowledge and skills for the manufacturing jobs of the future. Last week, Secretary Raimondo spoke to Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service where stressed the need for a trained workforce and the...
ICT Supply Chain
Investing in communities and workers
Workforce Development
Secretary Gina Raimondo
Semiconductor Industry

U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo Outlines Vision for Implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act

Blog
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo delivers speech at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Issues call to action to unite in driving technological progress and ensuring America’s global leadership Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo delivered a speech titled, “The CHIPS Act and a Long-term Vision for America’s Technological Leadership,” at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. In her remarks, Raimondo outlined the historic opportunity provided by the CHIPS...
ICT Supply Chain
Infrastructure
Investing in communities and workers
Manufacturing
Workforce Development
Jobs
Secretary Gina Raimondo
Semiconductor Industry

Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves at Press Conference in Puerto Rico: Highlighting the Administration’s Pledge to Support Economic Recovery and Renewal for the Archipelago

Speeches
Good afternoon, everyone. It’s wonderful to be back in Puerto Rico. In addition to my role as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce, I’m proud to serve as the Biden Administration’s Puerto Rico Economic Growth Coordinator and am honored to be working to make good on the Administration’s pledge to support economic recovery and renewal for the archipelago. My team and I work hand in hand with the...
Investing in communities and workers
Workforce Development
Broadband

Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves at the Puerto Rico Economic Dialogue

Speeches
Thank you all for being here today. As you know, the Biden Administration is investing unprecedented resources in Puerto Rico’s economic growth through many of your agencies, and we are committed to working closely with partners across the archipelago—in communities and in the government, non-profit, and private sectors—to ensure growth is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.  Hurricane Fiona...
Infrastructure
Investing in communities and workers
Manufacturing
Workforce Development
Digital Economy
Broadband

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager Announce U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council Talent for Growth Task Force

Press releases
Today, the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Co-Chairs U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and European Commission (EC) Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager announced on behalf of the TTC the creation of the Talent for Growth Task Force. The Task Force will help position the U.S. and EU to achieve a well-trained workforce, which is critical to maintaining our leadership in...
Export and investment promotion
Workforce Development
Secretary Gina Raimondo
European Union

Fact Sheet: U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Talent for Growth Task Force Introduction

Fact sheets
To ensure inclusive economic growth that benefits our people and to maintain our collective leadership in existing and emerging technologies, the TTC will announce the establishment of the Talent for Growth Task Force at its meeting on December 5. The U.S.-EU TTC is committed to collaborating to build middle-income careers for millions of workers in both the U.S. and EU. The U.S. and EU share the...
ICT Supply Chain
Workforce Development

Commerce Deputy Secretary Graves Concludes Trip to Santa Barbara and Addresses Importance of Protecting Our Nation’s Oceans and Coasts and Creating an Equitable and Diverse Workforce

Blog
Deputy Secretary Graves met with NOAA personnel and local leaders aboard R/V Shearwater, one of many NOAA research vessels that help ensure the protection of the resources and habitats in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
On Wednesday, November 16th, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves traveled to Santa Barbara, California, where he met with community leaders to highlight the Commerce Department’s commitment to protecting our nation’s sanctuaries and strengthening the U.S. semiconductor industry through improved workforce development opportunities and creating an equitable and diverse workforce. The Biden...
Environmental data
ICT Supply Chain
Investing in communities and workers
Workforce Development

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Joins First Lady Jill Biden, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in Announcing New Administration Initiative to Prepare Young Americans for the Careers of the Future

Blog
First Lady Jill Biden, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona at Rolling Meadows High School in Chicago
On Monday, November 14, First Lady Jill Biden, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announced Raise the Bar: Unlocking Career Success, a new Biden-Harris Administration initiative that will strengthen the connection between K-12 education, postsecondary education, and workforce programs. The announcement marked the beginning of...
Investing in communities and workers
Manufacturing
Workforce Development
Apprenticeships
Secretary Gina Raimondo

Secretary Raimondo Calls for More Women in the Construction Industry at NABTU Tradeswomen Build Nations 2022 Conference

Blog
Secretary Raimondo Addresses the North American Building Trades Union (NABTU) Tradeswomen Build Nations 2022 Conference.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo traveled to Las Vegas where she announced the Million Women in Construction initiative that aims to build a new inclusive American workforce by bringing more women into the construction industry. The announcement was made on October 29th during the Secretary’s keynote remarks at the North American Building Trades Union (NABTU) Tradeswomen Build Nations 2022...
Manufacturing
Workforce Development
Secretary Gina Raimondo
  1. Archives
  2. Accessibility
  3. Agency Financial Report
  4. Comment policy
  5. Digital strategy
  6. Information quality
  7. No Fear Act
  8. Inspector General
  9. Plain language
  10. Privacy policy
  11. Payment Integrity
  12. USA.gov
  13. Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
  14. Whistleblower Protection
  15. WhiteHouse.gov