The National Skills Coalition has opened registration for the 2019 Skills Summit, to be held in Washington, D.C., on February 5 - 7, 2019. This conference includes sessions on apprenticeships, strengthening the “safety net” through workforce development, and common performance measures.

From September 19-21, 2018, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies will host a conference in Birmingham, Alabama for workforce agency staff and field stakeholders. Topics will include workforce development, state and federal legal issues, labor market information, information technology, and unemployment insurance. For more information on committee meetings, travel information, registration, or specific agenda items, please visit the conference website.

Although unemployment is at a record low, the many Americans struggling to make ends meet is a sign that job creation alone is not the solution to poverty. Now, the issue is creating sustainable, livable wage jobs that foster career and wage growth. On October 11, the Urban Institute will discuss the challenges and potential policy interventions to help move the conversation away from just getting low-income and low-skill workers into jobs and instead focus on developing career pathways into middle-skill jobs that can support families and break cyclical poverty.

On October 29, the Metropolitan Policy Program and Child Trends will host an event to explore the state of the job market for disadvantaged young adults. This population has lower school graduation rates, lower employment rates, and lower wages, creating economic insecurity and hardship throughout adulthood. New research examining the quality of available jobs for disadvantaged young adults will be released and discussed, followed by an expert panel on policy takeaways and strategies to help create high-quality jobs for at-risk young adults. This event will take place in Washington, D.C. between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. EDT.

On November 13, the Urban Institute and the Association of Employment and Learning Providers will co-host the fourth annual Transatlantic Apprenticeship Exchange Forum in Washington, D.C. Practitioners and program officers can learn about upcoming changes in the apprenticeship system as well as the components of an effective and practical internship program. Leading authorities from Canada, the UK, and the U.S. will provide a comprehensive view on best practices throughout the world.

On December 6, the Brookings Institution will host a forum in Washington, D.C. to explore the challenges and solutions for low-wage workers’ facing obstacles to quality and sustainable jobs. Experts will debate the merits and potential efficacy of various proposed policies, such as job training, public employment, and subsidies, among others. The event will also be timed with a new white paper on the same topic.