Join a Policy Committee
By joining a NJBIA Policy Committee, you are a member of a select group of members from many different businesses who share a common interest in a particular area of concern.
Althea Ford
Vice President of Government Affairs
Education & Workforce Development Committee
NJBIA members must have access to a well-trained and educated workforce. This is why education and workforce development is so critical. Our most recent Business Outlook Survey shows entry-level employees generally lack employability skills. These skills include writing, verbal communication, critical thinking and time management. There is also a technical skills gap, particularly in manufacturing.
In 2018 NJBIA released The Education Equation: Strategies for Retaining and Attracting New Jersey’s Future Workforce. It outlines strategies to prepare New Jersey’s future workforce. It also focuses attention on building a dynamic brand for New Jersey higher education and how to build career readiness standards into all curriculum of K-16 education.
NJBIA works with academia, government and our members to ensure that programs are developed and implemented. These programs strengthen the state’s workforce pipeline and closes the existing skills gap. Thanks to these efforts, several programs have already been implemented.
If you have questions, please contact Althea Ford at aford@njbia.org.
Committee MeetingsEducation & Workforce Development News
Position Papers
June 14, 2023
NJBIA Testimony in Strong Support of A-2014/S-659
On behalf of our member companies that make NJBIA the largest and most impactful statewide business association in the nation, thank you to Assemblymen Conaway, Wirths and Umba for sponsoring this bill and to Chairman Tully for posting it and allowing us the opportunity to express our very strong support for A-2014/S-659. Workforce Crisis As […]
June 5, 2023
NJBIA Testimony Opposing Legislation to Eliminate High School Graduation Proficiency Test – A-4639
On behalf of our member companies that make NJBIA the largest business association in our state, I write you to respectfully oppose Assembly Bill A-4639, which seeks to eliminate the high school graduation proficiency test, as this legislation will reduce data, accountability and standards within our education system. New Jersey has demonstrated investment in its […]
March 16, 2023
NJBIA Testimony Opposing Legislation to Eliminate High School Testing – A-4639
Good morning! I am Althea D. Ford, Vice President of Government Affairs covering education for the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA). Thank you, Chairwoman Lampitt and the members of the Assembly Education Committee, for considering our perspective on A-4639, and on behalf of our business community, NJBIA respectfully opposes this bill that will […]
Issue Reports
June 16, 2021
NJBIA Supports Bills Providing $249 Million for Career and Technical Education
An Assembly committee has approved two bills supported by NJBIA that provide $249 million for career vocational and technical education from the Securing Our Children’s Future Fund. The Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday released A-5888 (DeAngelo/Armato/Quijano), which appropriates $26.4 million for Career and Technical Education (CTE) at nine county colleges. The committee also released A-5889 […]
June 10, 2021
NJBIA Supports Workforce Bill that Commits $3 Million to Basic Skills Training
NJBIA supported a bill on Thursday that commits $3 million from the state Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skills to the NJBIA Basic Skills Training Program, administered through the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development. Bill S-793, sponsored by Senator Sandra Cunningham (D-31), was unanimously released by the Senate Labor Committee. […]
May 14, 2021
NJBIA Supports Bill to Provide Tax Credits to Those Who Hire Developmentally Disabled
Senate President Steve Sweeney on Friday introduced a bill, strongly supported by NJBIA, that would provide tax credits to businesses that employ the developmentally disabled. The legislation would allow a credit against corporation business tax liability or gross income tax liability of 10% of the salary and wages paid to an employee with a developmental […]
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