Impact of Workforce Pell Grant on Employers

For decades, the US has relied on a “college for all” model that fails to prepare workers for all job openings created by employers, instead preparing the majority of workers for only some job openings, traditionally “white collar” jobs. This has left a deficiency in the “blue collar” jobs market, causing a striking difference in wages: a new graduate of a bachelor’s degree program’s average starting wage is $55,000, while an apprenticeship graduate’s average starting wage is $80,000. The Workforce Pell Grant will be positioned to assist employers by providing potential employees credentials that help them get their foot in the door for the high-skill, high-wage jobs available now.

The Workforce Pell Grant is one opportunity to move away from the “train and pray” model that has haunted education - colleges train workers in isolation of industry needs and workers are left to hope the training leads them in the proper direction. To enact this vision, colleges looking to utilize the Workforce Pell should start by communicating with employers in their area on what specific jobs need filling now, and what kinds of credentials those employees need. This will ensure that student grant funds are used impactfully.

Based on in-depth interviews with 18 manufacturing, defense, aerospace and aviation industries in Brevard County, all employers identified the need to improve basic technical skills - skills that transcend each of these industries individually and would be the proper length for Workforce Pell trainings, covering topics such as mechanical aptitude, blueprint reading and interpretation, measurement and precision tools, workplace safety, lean manufacturing principles, hand and power tools operation, clean room operations, materials and processes, electronic and avionics components, and machine maintenance.

Beyond the foundational skills identified above, employers shared priority technical skills needed. These include quality, troubleshooting, CNC programming, composite materials fabrication and repair, non-destructive testing, soldering and wire harness assembly, robotics and automation, electronics and avionics. The priority technical skills align to the critical job demands employers emphasize are needed to support the growth and innovation across these industries. Employers emphasize that proficiency in these skills is not just beneficial but essential for maintaining competitiveness and operational excellence. 

The traditional Pell grant served nearly ⅓ of college students in 2022-23. With so many students reliant on the funding, it served as a chokehold for colleges to only offer programs that met traditional Pell requirements - certificates, two-year degrees, and four-year degrees. The Workforce Pell grant is poised to provide financial assistance to students that previously was not available for the foundational skills and priority technical skills mentioned above. With the Workforce Pell grant, colleges will be able to change their way of offering training - changing to bite sized programs that can be taken one piece at a time. Students will be able to take just one piece, and add up the pieces over a period of time for a certificate or larger degree. This will allow students to enter the workforce faster with the training needed to succeed in today’s workforce.

Want to make sure the skills your company needs are aligned to programs and ready for the incoming Workforce Pell recipients? Contact Dr. Mildred G. Coyne, CEO of Coyne Workforce Solutions at mildred.coyne@coyneworkforcesolutions.com.

The next article in the Workforce Pell grant series will be on “Credentials of Value” and the benefit and impact for both employee and employer, stay tuned!