The Brookings Institution has published a research report suggesting that if state and local agencies “act strategically, they can harness IIJA funding to make both short- and long-term investments in the next generation of infrastructure talent.” According to Brookings researchers, officials tasked with overseeing infrastructure projects and investments “are often not familiar with existing education and workforce assets that can support more strategic recruitment, training, and retention activities, while local and state workforce programs may not know how to focus their outreach and partnership efforts. This report attempts to fill these knowledge gaps by equipping state and local leaders with more information and guidance on how to use expanded federal infrastructure funding to invest strategically in workforce development activities.”
Last month, Brookings issued a report warning that the infrastructure industry as a whole needs to step up its preparation for a “silver tsunami” of retirements that will deplete the ranks of skilled workers by 2031. On Wednesday afternoon, January 25, Brookings is conducting an online and in-person event on accelerating government agency investment in infrastructure workforce development.