The Policy Intersection between Sector Strategies and Low-Income Workers: The State Responsibility to Make the Connection

The sober reality of a growing low-skilled labor market in the U.S. presents an opportunity for states to consider policies that deliberately advance low-wage workers through skills attainment as a mechanism for regional economic growth. For many states, this framework is challenging. State leaders struggle to reconcile the goals of supporting their high-growth, high-wage industries with the goals of advancing low-skilled, low-wage workers. “Sector strategies” are one model to consider as a mechanism for integration. Sector strategies are regional partnerships of employers, training and education providers, community organizations, and other key stakeholders around a specific industry to address the workforce needs of employers, and the needs of workers for good jobs.