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Local hiring, targeted hiring, priority hiring – these are all terms used to describe specific policies to increase access to apprenticeship training and good jobs on major construction projects for local residents and groups considered to be underrepresented in the industry, including women and people of color, especially Black and Brown workers. Recent federal relief and recovery bills including the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) encourage states and local communities to utilize targeted hire policies and set clear equity goals when developing publicly funded projects, creating potentially transformative opportunities for state and local governments to use investments of federal funds to create pathways to high-quality lifelong careers for local residents.
During this webinar organized by the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN) and Jobs to Move America, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about targeted hiring policies—including key components to support racial and gender equity—and how they interact with other tools, such as pre–apprenticeship, community benefits agreements and Project Labor Agreements, promoting equitable access to good union jobs and ensuring local communities benefit from major public infrastructure investments.
Specific examples of targeted hiring policies around the country will highlight how these initiatives have been developed and implemented in partnership with labor unions and grassroots organizations building power with Black, Brown, and women workers. Participants will also be able to learn about the ongoing campaign to expand local and targeted hiring policies beyond recent legislation by changing outdated federal regulations at the Office of Management and Budget. Speakers include:
- Jaimie Worker and Jennifer Sherer, EARN (Moderators)
- Miguel Cabral, Los Angeles Metro
- Nate Carter, StandUp Nashville
- Mike Lawliss, Jobs to Move America
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