SEC. 2. STRATEGY REPORT. 
(a) STRATEGY REPORT REQUIRED.—The Secretary 
shall develop and submit to Congress a strategy report to 
address the skills gap by providing analysis and rec-
ommendations to increase on-the-job training and appren-
ticeship opportunities and increase employer participation 
in education and workforce training. 
(b) GOALS OF THE STRATEGY REPORT.—The strat-
egy report required by subsection (a) shall include specific 
recommendations to achieve the following goals: 
(1) To increase the aggregate number of em-
ployers and employees participating in on-the-job 
training and apprenticeships. 
(2) To determine ways in which the Depart-
ment of Labor can increase employer outreach to en-
courage new and expanded employer participation in 
education and workforce training. 
(3) To identify and prioritize industry-recog-
nized postsecondary credentials that are nationally 
portable and aligned with in-demand occupations in 
industries such as construction, manufacturing, and 
others that are emerging. 
(4) To determine ways in which the Depart-
ment of Labor can better address the skills gap by 
maximizing existing resources, programs, and per-
sonnel. 
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(c) ANALYSIS REQUIRED.—As part of the strategy 
report under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, at a min-
imum, include the following: 
(1) A comparison of United States on-the-job 
training and apprenticeship policies and strategies 
with the policies and strategies of other countries 
where employers play a larger role in education and 
workforce training. 
(2) An assessment of the Department of La-
bor’s Registered Apprenticeship program to deter-
mine how it can be better utilized to appeal to more 
industries and to boost the goals described in sub-
section (b). 
(3) An evaluation of any existing or potential 
opportunities within the Department of Labor to 
refocus or repurpose resources and personnel to bet-
ter support on-the-job training and apprenticeship 
goals. 
(4) An analysis of the specific barriers pre-
venting the domestic workforce from acquiring the 
skills desired by domestic employers, including an 
assessment of opportunities to reduce those barriers 
by— 
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(A) improving coordination between Fed-
eral agencies that administer employment and 
training programs; and 
(B) modifying Federal employment and 
training programs to enable States to better 
utilize Federal employment and training funds. 
(d) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Secretary shall in-
clude in the skills gap strategy report required under sub-
section (a) recommendations for achieving the goals in-
cluded in the strategy pursuant to subsection (b). Such 
recommendations may include proposals as follows: 
(1) Actions that may be taken by the Federal 
Government, Congress, State, local and territorial 
governments, the private sector, universities, indus-
try associations, and other stakeholders to improve 
policies, coordination, and interaction between such 
entities, including strategies and best practices to— 
(A) boost public-private partnerships and 
employer-led partnerships; and 
(B) help establish regional industry part-
nerships. 
(2) Adoption of strategies that have been imple-
mented and proven successful in key industries and 
regions in the United States and in other countries. 
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(3) In coordination with the Secretary of Com-
merce and the Secretary of Education, develop plans 
that identify strategies— 
(A) for increased employer participation in 
career and technical education; 
(B) to better align career and technical 
education curriculums and programs with fast 
growing industry sectors; 
(C) to encourage more pre-apprenticeship 
and college credit courses in secondary schools; 
(D) to improve school-to-work transitions 
and connections; and 
(E) to assist employers in partnering with 
K–12 schools, community colleges, and service 
providers. 
(e) SUBMITTAL OF STRATEGY REPORT.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress the strategy report 
developed under this section. 
(f) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary may imple-
ment the recommendations under subsection (d) as the 
Secretary determines appropriate, if otherwise permitted 
under law. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED.—The term ‘‘indus-
try-recognized’’, as used with respect to a credential, 
means a credential that— 
(A) is sought or accepted by employers 
within the industry sector involved as recog-
nized, preferred, or required for recruitment, 
screening, hiring, or advancement; 
(B) is endorsed by a recognized trade or 
professional association or organization, rep-
resenting a significant part of the industry sec-
tor; and 
(C) is a nationally portable credential that 
is sought or accepted across multiple States, as 
described in subparagraph (A). 
(2) RECOGNIZED
POSTSECONDARY
CREDEN-
TIAL.—The term ‘‘recognized postsecondary creden-
tial’’ means a credential consisting of an industry- 
recognized credential for postsecondary training, a 
certificate that meets the requirements of subpara-
graphs (A) and (C) of paragraph (1) for postsec-
ondary training, a certificate of completion of a post-
secondary apprenticeship through a program de-
scribed in section 122(a)(2)(B) of the Workforce In-
vestment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842(a)(2)(B)), or 
an associate degree or baccalaureate degree awarded 
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