Answers to Questions about Skills2Compete Maryland

What is the goal of Skills2Compete Maryland?
Every working Marylander should have access to the equivalent of at least two years of education or training past high school - leading to a career or technical credential, industry certification, or one's first two years of college - to be pursued at whatever point and pace makes sense for individual workers and industries. Click here for more information about Skills2Compete Maryland.Job Demand

Who is heading up Skills2Compete Maryland?
Skills2Compete Maryland is led by Lieutenant Governor Brown, at the direction of Governor O'Malley.

What specifically will state agencies be tasked with?
State agencies, partners and stakeholders involved in Skills2Compete Maryland will:

  • Support the Governor's vision by encouraging and promoting programs and activities that lead to increasing the skill level of Marylanders though the attainment of a post-secondary credential, apprenticeship program or degree.
  • Assist customers in navigating the appropriate resources and services that provide pathways to skills attainment, e.g., One-Stop Career Centers, community colleges, private career schools, and funding sources such as Pell Grants.
  • Communicate to businesses that the State is preparing a world class workforce with the skills to improve Maryland's competitiveness.

Why emphasize "middle skills" jobs?
'Middle-skills' jobs are jobs in the middle of the skilled labor market which require some training beyond high school, but not a four-year degree. Substantial demand remains for individuals to fill jobs in the middle of the labor market, with many of these jobs paying quite high wages. Nearly half of the jobs in the labor market today remain in the middle-skill occupational categories such as construction, transportation, manufacturing, clerical, and healthcare. Education vs Employment

Middle-skill jobs represent a significant share of the region's labor market and will continue to do so in the future. They also provide unique opportunities to low wage earners and the unemployed. Specifically, individuals can acquire the skills and knowledge required for advancement or a new career in a relatively short period of time and pay significantly higher wages than low-skill jobs.