Employer Demands
Employers increasingly demand skilled workers for even entry-level jobs.
This paper is the third in a series of Jobs Initiative issue briefs. It looks at the results of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Jobs Initiative and its implications for public policy – including reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, finanical aid tailored for working adults with children, employer incentives to support skill-building for low-wage employees, and more.
While the Higher Education Act of 1965 intended to increase access to education for low-income traditional students, it was biased toward a small part of the population who lack education and training opportunities. The Reauthorization of the Act in 2004 was a way to reach many more working adults, simultaneously lifting them out of poverty and meeting employer demands for skilled workers.