WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) announced today a series of hearings on “Jobs and Opportunity: Perspectives on the Jobs Gap.” The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, P.L. 115-97, is putting more money into the pockets of American families and enabling businesses to create jobs and expand. This series will focus on the jobs gap – the difference between employers’ increasing demand for workers in a strong economy and the millions of workers still on the sidelines. By closing that gap, more Americans will share in the success of an economy that is finally starting to fire on all cylinders.

Chairman Brady released the following statement:

“In the wake of historic tax reform, we have an economy that is built for growth. Already employers are struggling to fill jobs, and with millions of Americans stuck on the sidelines, there is a major jobs gap. This hearing series will allow the Committee to hear from a range of employers, workers, and the community organizations that help to bridge the two together to help more families move up the economic ladder. Our goal is for all Americans to find jobs, grow their careers, and achieve their own American dream.”

House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) announced that the Subcommittee will hold the first hearing in the series entitled “Jobs and Opportunity: Local Perspectives on the Jobs Gap.” The hearing will take place on Thursday, April 12, 2018 in 1100 Longworth House Office Building at 2:00PM.  The first hearing will examine the community impact of local employers’ demand for workers, and the need to get more Americans off the sidelines into the labor force so more families can escape poverty and climb the economic ladder. 

Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Smith released the following statement:

“Our human services programs have an opportunity to provide the next wave of workers needed to fill the jobs gap, so we need to make sure federal policies support and reward work for all those struggling to get ahead. It’s only fitting that we start this hearing series with local perspectives because that is where life is lived, where Americans face real challenges but are also incredible problem-solvers. I look forward to hearing how we can provide more opportunities for all Americans to benefit from strong economic growth.”

BACKGROUND:

From the perspective of workers or potential workers, the economy is as strong as it has been in years while there are still millions of Americans on the sidelines. The Committee found that one in seven 16-24 year olds in the U.S. are neither working or in school, totaling more than 5.5 million disconnected youth nationwide, while there are also 7 million working-age men that have disappeared from the labor force altogether, raising concerns about the future of American families and the effectiveness of our human services programs.