House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik has reintroduced two bills aimed at enhancing workforce development and skills-based hiring practices. The Employer-Directed Skills Act and the Advancing Skills-Based Hiring Act are designed to improve how employers evaluate potential employees, focusing on job skills rather than academic qualifications.
The Employer-Directed Skills Act aims to provide job creators with opportunities for workforce development, equipping workers for in-demand jobs. It allows employers to identify prospective workers for skills development programs and expands eligible programs to include work-based learning. Additionally, it offers partial reimbursements for upskilling program costs through an Employer-Directed Skills Account.
The Advancing Skills-Based Hiring Act supports employers in adopting skills-based hiring practices by providing technical assistance on pre-employment assessments. It allows employers to submit assessment validity evidence to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for review and offers a safe harbor if their use of assessments meets legal requirements.
Chairwoman Stefanik emphasized the importance of these measures, stating, “I am proud to introduce these two measures to invest in workforce development and empower job creators to evaluate candidates based on what they know how to do, not whether they went to college.”
Henry Hanscom from the American Trucking Associations expressed support for the Employer-Directed Skills Act, noting its potential to align workforce development with business needs. Doug Ford of the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association highlighted the bill’s role in connecting people with career opportunities through training and support.
Rob Bicknell of Northern New York Lumber Dealers Association appreciated Stefanik’s efforts in providing solutions that benefit local businesses by facilitating faster training and employment processes. Rod Wiles from the American Building Materials Alliance acknowledged the bill’s focus on real-world skills over résumés, emphasizing its role in building a future-ready workforce.
