HR6416-119

What This Bill Does

The Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to promote digital equity and digitally resilient workers, employers, education systems, and workforce systems. It defines accelerated learning models, digital equity, digital and information literacy, digital resilience, digital workplace skills, eligible entities, low digital-literacy indicators, and working-age residents. The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with Education and Commerce, must award grants to States that apply. State allotments are based 50 percent on total population, 25 percent on working-age population, and 25 percent on the population with low digital and information literacy indicators. States must describe budgets, timing, alignment with Digital Equity Act and BEAD plans, and how they will build digitally resilient systems. If a State does not apply, Labor can award funds to an eligible entity to serve the State or make direct grants to eligible entities. States must use funds for subgrants that expand digital workplace skills for people seeking work or career advancement, with priority for individuals with barriers to employment and geographically diverse distribution. Subgrantees report within one year, States report to Labor after 18 to 24 months, and Labor publishes reports. A parallel eligible-entity grant program supports business engagement, classroom instruction, apprenticeships, work-based learning, supportive services, digital workplace curriculum, instructor professional development, accelerated learning models, in-demand occupations, privacy and security protections, credentials, measurable skill gains, and engagement with small and medium-sized employers. Labor may reserve up to 5 percent for administration and technical assistance and 2 to 4 percent for evaluation. The bill authorizes such sums as necessary for FY2026 and the next four fiscal years and adds digital and information literacy training to WIOA statewide and local workforce activities.

Who Benefits and How

Workers with low digital literacy and people with barriers to employment benefit from training tied to current jobs, career advancement, credentials, and in-demand occupations. State workforce agencies benefit from formula grants. Community colleges, adult education providers, workforce boards, nonprofits, industry partnerships, and sector partnerships benefit from subgrants or direct eligible-entity grants. Small and medium-sized employers benefit because grant applicants must explain how they will engage employers and build digital workplace skills relevant to in-demand sectors. Instructors benefit from professional development and hiring pathways tied to industry experience.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Labor Department must administer State grants, direct eligible-entity grants, technical assistance, evaluations, and public reports. State workforce agencies must apply, run subgrants, ensure geographic diversity, prioritize people with barriers, and report results. Grant recipients must document curricula, credentials, privacy protections, employer engagement, accelerated learning, and alignment with State digital equity and broadband plans. Federal taxpayers fund the grants and evaluations.

Key Provisions

• Amends WIOA to create a digital skills at work grant program.
• Defines digital equity, digital workplace skills, digital resilience, eligible entities, and low digital-literacy indicators.
• Requires State grants allocated by total population, working-age population, and low digital-literacy population.
• Requires State subgrants to expand digital workplace skills with priority for individuals with barriers to employment and geographic diversity.
• Creates eligible-entity grants for business engagement, classroom instruction, apprenticeships, work-based learning, supportive services, curriculum, credentials, privacy, and instructor development.
• Allows Labor to reserve up to 5 percent for administration and technical assistance and 2 to 4 percent for evaluation.
• Authorizes such sums as necessary for FY2026 through FY2030 and adds digital literacy training to WIOA activities.