Groups raise concerns for job opportunities at workforce development roundtable in Gary

Lawmakers hosted a workforce development roundtable on Wednesday.

It happened at one of the United Steel Workers posts in Gary. The conversation was led by Indiana Congressman Frank Mrvan and Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski.

The roundtable encouraged an open conversation with organized labor groups like the Steel Workers Union, college programs and non-profits.

The discussion was designed to allow these groups to express their concerns when it comes to the local trade business and hot topic apprenticeship programs.

One representative of a labor group says “it’s all about money.”

An overarching theme these labor groups address is underfunding when it comes to apprenticeship programs. These programs could help young people get the hands-on experience they need to break into the trade industry, which is facing a worker shortage nationwide.

Now, some of these trade companies are asking for more statewide and federal funding.

Some also argued that trade schools should be promoted more.

“The current administration is defunding these types of programs. I want to prioritize them, if you want to bring in big business and big projects and the jobs of tomorrow, you have to have the educated work force. On the labor side, the union side and also young individuals going into them,” said Congressman Mrvan.

Mrvan went on to say it’s not just the underfunding of apprenticeship programs but area career centers and workforce development, too.

He says he walked out of that roundtable discussion feeling like he has a lot of work to do when it comes to funding.