New Federal Talent Strategy Report Highlights Urgency of Workforce Reform

The U.S. Departments of Labor, Commerce, and Education recently released America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age, a government-wide plan to strengthen U.S. workforce systems and close skills gaps in priority industries such as aerospace.
 
The report emphasizes five pillars:

• Industry-driven pipelines built through employer-led training and apprenticeships,
• Worker mobility supported by competency-based assessments and new credentialing,
• Integrated systems that streamline duplicative federal programs,
• Accountability to ensure federally funded programs deliver results, and
• Flexibility and innovation to adapt to rapid changes such as AI and advanced manufacturing.

For the ATEC community, the strategy aligns well with the council’s efforts to develop employer-led, industry-aligned certification standards, expand access to FAA mechanic testing, and drive outcomes through better integrating aviation technical programs into secondary education.
 
As ATEC continues its work with federal partners and lawmakers, this strategy will guide our advocacy before Congress and federal agencies, providing a strong framework to leverage new investments in workforce development.
 
Read the full report: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/newsreleases/2025/08/Americas-Talent-Strategy-Building-the-Workforce-for-the-Golden-Age.pdf
 
Join the Fly-In to discuss how America’s Talent Strategy will advance priorities on Capitol Hill: https://www.atec-amt.org/events/2025-fly-in