Governor Tom Wolf was joined by Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) Secretary Jennifer Berrier today at Manor College in Montgomery County to highlight a program to improve foundational digital literacy skills and to provide better access to employment opportunities in the 21st Labor market of the century. The program was created through a grant from the Wolf administration.
“With digital platforms dominating how the job market attracts and finds employees, it’s critical that all Pennsylvanians have the skills to navigate these opportunities,” Governor Wolf said. “I am proud of the work done at Manor College, and the rest of the Scholars, to prepare their graduates for success. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. Pennsylvanians deserve every opportunity to succeed in family jobs, and Pennsylvania businesses need access to candidates for their job openings.
In 2021, L&I announced a $1.3 million investment for computer-based training delivered by 32 organizations statewide. Manor College received $45,000 to promote digital literacy skills among job seekers and help students complete in-class and online job search training and a career readiness program.
“We need to ensure that job seekers at all levels have the skills to effectively navigate the digital platforms used in the workplace,” said Secretary Berrier. “The success of Pennsylvania’s workforce depends on digital skills – an effort made possible by the Digital Literacy and Workforce Development Grants (DLWDG) and work done at Manor College to help students to find competitive employment with family wages.
Since its inception, Manor College’s digital literacy program has served 85 students in the 2021-2022 academic year. Students received classroom training in career readiness and had the opportunity to participate in a one-on-one resume review with Manor College Career Center faculty and counselors. The program runs until September 30, 2022.
On Wednesday, Secretary Berrier joined Manor College digital literacy instructors from the Departments of Business, Education, and Veterinary Technology, as well as guidance counselors and officials from Montgomery County PA CareerLink® for a networking and a panel discussion to talk about what’s being done locally to build lifelong digital literacy skills in an ever-changing, tech-savvy workforce.
“The Digital Literacy Grant has brought a new direction to our programming already here at Manor College,” said Rich Jutkiewicz, Manor College Career Center Coordinator and the institution’s chief librarian. “Certainly, we help our students prioritize their job search as they prepare to graduate. With our career-focused degree and certificate programs, this is an integral part of what we do. This grant has helped us make this type of programming a focal point for instructors and counselors. It provides an important resource for students looking to make the most of the education they receive here.
The DLWDGs are 100% funded by the federal government through federal business funding from the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA’s statewide activity funding can be used to help job seekers and workers access employment, education, training and support services to succeed on the work market. Additional details can be found on the L&I website.
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