VOA慢速英语--Bill Seeks More Training for High-Demand Jobs

 

America is expected to face a shortage of workers in some jobs.

Some lawmakers, however, are worried that not enough people are being trained to be able to do the work.

For example, in 2024, America will need 9.2 million wind turbine workers -- twice as many as in 2014.

The United States also will need millions of additional health workers. People are needed to do the work of physical therapists, home health aides and nurse practitioners².

The information about America’s future job needs comes from a recent report by the United States Labor³ Department. It was a desire to prepare people to fill these high-demand jobs that led the House of Representatives to pass a bill to update a 1984 law.

The 33-year-old law sets federal policy for education that prepares people for jobs, many of which require technical skills.

The new bill gives America’s 50 state governments more freedom on how they can use federal money to prepare people for jobs.

Supporters of the legislation say it encourages states to work more closely with local business leaders. The goal is to set up classes and programs that better prepare people for jobs in which demand for workers is expected to be highest.

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx is a Republican from the southern U.S. state of North Carolina. She also is chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce⁴.

Foxx said about 6 million jobs are now going unfilled because they require technical skills and knowledge most people looking for work do not have.

“If we want to help participants move from government assistance and hold a job, then we must set them on a path toward jobs and industries that are currently and will remain competitive,” Foxx said.

Bill passes House, but needs Senate approval

The House of Representatives passed the bill, called the “Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act,” by a vote of 377 to 34. The bill now must pass the Senate before it can go to the White House for President Donald Trump’s approval or veto.

Some Democrats⁶ said the bill is helpful. But they say it does not do enough to prepare people for technical and health jobs.

Congressman⁷ Lloyd Doggett is a Democrat⁵ from the American southwestern state of Texas. He said, “This one very modest bill that does not add one new dollar to address the challenges that those who want to rise from welfare to work need.”

The bill sets aside $100 million from a current job training program for one year, Doggett said.

At a House hearing in February, some people suggested that students are not being encouraged to sign up for job training programs offered by two-year colleges. Instead, most students are encouraged to enter four-year colleges that often do not provide technical job training.

Mike Rowe heads mikeroweWORKS Foundation, an organization that helps people seeking job skills. He also is a host of the television shows “Dirty Jobs” and “Somebody’s Gotta Do It.” He spoke⁸ about his own career training during a February hearing of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education.

“A four-year school would have been a huge mistake at that point in my life. I was 17-years-old. I had no money and I had no idea what I wanted to do. The local community college offered hundreds of courses in my price range, so that’s where I went. And that experience opened doors, I didn’t even know existed...”

The Labor Department reported that employers are expected to increase hiring in health care, including eye and ear care.

Other high-demand jobs include truck drivers, personal finance advisors⁹ and internet developers.

I'm Bruce Alpert.

Words in This Story

wind turbine - n. a tall structure that has large blades attached to an engine and that is used to produce electricity

physical therapist - n. a worker whose job it is to help people with physical pain or health needs

nurse practitioner¹ - n. a nurse who is trained to do some of the things a doctor does -- such as give physical exams or order certain medical tests

encourage - v. to make someone more determined¹⁰, hopeful, or confident

participant - n. a person who is involved in an activity or event

accelerate - v. to move faster

modest - adj. not very large in effect or impact

challenges - n. to test the ability, skill, or strength of someone

welfare - n. a program that provides financial assistance to very poor people

1 practitioner   

n.实践者，从事者；(医生或律师等)开业者

参考例句：

• He is an unqualified practitioner of law.他是个无资格的律师。
• She was a medical practitioner before she entered politics.从政前她是个开业医生。

2 practitioners   

n.习艺者，实习者( practitioner的名词复数 )；从业者（尤指医师）

参考例句：

• one of the greatest practitioners of science fiction 最了不起的科幻小说家之一
• The technique is experimental, but the list of its practitioners is growing. 这种技术是试验性的，但是采用它的人正在增加。 来自辞典例句

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

5 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

6 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

10 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。