WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT


Workforce Solution Must Be Eff ective


Both Now and in the Long Term By Sara Wildberger


Among legislation he has been behind is the Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act (H.R. 1740), which creates a market-driven visa category for a temporary year-round non-agriculture workforce targeted to occu- pations that do not require advanced skills or degrees. In this email Q&A, he addresses the importance of the Act to meeting cur- rent and future needs.


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Senior living will require more than 1 million workers over the next six years. How does the Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act address that? An aging population is not only creating workforce shortages as skilled individuals retire, but also driving needs for skilled pro- fessionals delivering care. The majority of the workforce needs are at the direct-care worker level; this legislation will help fi ll these roles. I began working on this legislation last


Congress. Certain visa category “fi xes” for workers in the agricultural industry were included in a large immigration reform and border security package. I strongly support- ed this, but also thought that if we fi x one category, we should look to all categories to ensure our visa system satisfi es industries across the spectrum. I believe this is a criti- cal piece of the puzzle to solving our border issues and deterring illegal immigration. My staff and I began engaging stakehold-


ers in construction, hospitality, and health care about what their industries need. How can we help meet workforce demands, while continuing the economic growth spurred by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the adminis- tration’s regulatory relief eff orts?


ep. Lloyd Smucker understands the need for more workers in many industries and has taken action.


In collaboration with many stakeholders,


I introduced the Workforce for an Expand- ing Economy Act. The bill creates a two-track system in


which employers and potential immigrant laborers are both required to receive a per- mit to allow work in the United States. An employer would have to apply to the federal government for approval to hire an H-2D worker; a potential employee could not en- ter the United States until they had been affi rmatively hired by an employer who had that approval. These employees would be able to work


only for an approved employer, at the ap- proved location, in the approved specifi c job—and all employers would be required to use e-verify, among other details.


What are the eff ects of workforce shortages on U.S. economy, and what are some ways to address this? Our economy is booming. But it may not reach its full potential if U.S. companies cannot fi nd the workers they need. I believe the best way we can address


this in the long-term is by investing in the U.S. workforce: expanding apprenticeship opportunities and access to skills-based ed- ucation to help individuals gain credentials to remain competitive. In the short-term, we could address this


by passing my legislation and creating a legal immigration system that works for all industries—not just a select few. U.S. businesses need to fi ll jobs now, meaning we need to welcome workers from other countries. I wrote the legislation to be market-driv-


en, therefore, the visas will become available only when the economy is at its strongest and labor demands cannot be met by the


42 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019


Thought Leader Profi le


U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA 11th District)


domestic market. This helps safeguard against future workforce challenges, while including strong U.S. worker protections.


What motivates your commitment to creating a strong senior living workforce? My district encompasses Lancaster, Pa., which is ranked by U.S News and World Report as the No. 1 place in the nation to retire. I frequently visit and meet with residents and direct-care workers about the needs of the community and the demands of the job. The direct-care workforce has played a key role in helping Lancaster earn its reputa- tion, by providing the highest-quality care to senior living and home health. It is important to me to ensure we contin-


ue to have an adequate supply of direct care workers, so more Pennsylvanians, including my own family, will have expanded options on the type of care available to them to live long, healthy, and happy lives.


More information on the Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act and other workforce issues is available at Congressman Smucker’s website, smucker.house.gov.


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