A joint federal initiative has been launched to develop a network of skilled employees to fill the workforce requirements of foreign firms with new or expanding U.S. operations.
SelectTalentUSA, supported by the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Education and Labor, was announced May 2. The program "seeks to help foreign investors build local and state partnerships, adapt their traditional talent-development approaches to the United States, and harness America’s unique comparative advantage—its diverse and skilled workforce," the Department of Commerce (DOC) states in the news release.
"Ensuring we have a well-trained workforce is critical to spurring more foreign direct investment in the United States," DOC Secretary Gina Raimondo said in the news release. "By connecting foreign multinationals to federal and local partnerships that train American workers, SelectTalentUSA will help encourage investment in America, create good-paying jobs, and get workers the skills they need to compete and thrive."
The DOC states in the release that stimulating foreign direct investment (FDI) is an "essential part" of President Joe Biden's administration to develop an equitable economy for workers and rejuvenating historically underserved communities. SelectTalentUSA also addresses challenges faced by foreign investors by providing information and connections on accessing "the diverse American workforce," the release states.
The program, lead by Commerce, Labor and Education departments, will focus first on markets in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, the release reports. The initiative is expected to energize existing cooperation with those countries to expand apprenticeships and exchange information on their apprenticeship systems.
More than 20 federal departments are also partnering on the SelectUSA-led Interagency Investment Working Group (IIWG), which SelectTalentUSA can leverage to connect foreign investors with resources and experts to develop quality training and education programs, according to the release.
“Improving equitable access to good jobs helps to build an economy that works for everyone,” Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su said in the release. “Leveraging our partnerships through SelectTalentUSA helps foreign investors establish and expand access to a skilled and diverse workforce and underscores our commitment to ensuring the U.S. retains its place among the most productive and innovative economies in the world.”
