Report: Underinvestment in State Programs is Harming Maryland Workers
Maryland’s workforce development programs are falling short in many areas, according to new analysis from the Maryland Center on Economic Policy (MDCEP). The gaps in state programs – most of which stem from insufficient funding and inadequate staffing levels – make it harder for thousands of Marylanders to get the supports they need to ultimately find and keep good, family-supporting jobs.
“Maryland’s Workforce Development Policy Can be a Tool to Remove Barriers and Expand Opportunity” is the latest in MDCEP’s Budgeting for Opportunity series, which examines the ways our state’s current fiscal policy choices affect Black, Brown, Indigenous and other communities of color, and outlines detailed recommendations for removing barriers and creating a Maryland that truly offers opportunity for everyone.
“Workers in Maryland, as in virtually every other state, are trying to get by in a system that was built on the foundation of slavery and other explicitly racist policies. While the policies we have in place today may not be as explicit, many still reinforce barriers to opportunity and leave too many people, especially workers of color, behind,” MDCEP President and CEO Benjamin Orr said. “In this report, we highlight ways the state can remove these barriers and ensure everyone Marylander, no matter what they look like or where they live, has the chance to get work that pays enough to provide a decent standard of living.”
The report takes a deep look at the challenges shaping Maryland’s workforce and opportunities for making powerful policy changes, focusing on three main areas of state services:
- Direct spending on community colleges and job training programs. MDCEP’s analysis found that the existing programs are not serving enough people to meet demand, and that the state’s training programs often end up placing people in low-paying jobs, or no job at all.
- Enforcement of worker protections. The Maryland legislature has passed a number of laws protecting workers – such as raising the minimum wage and enacting equal pay protections – but those laws are only meaningful if they are enforced. This analysis finds troubling funding and staffing trends in the state agencies that are charged with enforcing labor laws and workplace safety, as well as a lack of transparency about core performance measures.
- Unemployment insurance. Maryland’s unemployment insurance system is failing out-of-work Marylanders in multiple ways. Far too many people are excluded from receiving benefits, and those who are eligible can face long wait times and administrative barriers, only to receive payments that are insufficient to keep them afloat during a challenging time.
The report’s author, MDCEP Research Analyst Christopher Meyer, previewed some of his findings in a panel discussion Thursday morning, part of MDCEP’s annual policy summit This is [Economic] Justice. He also emphasized the importance of the state’s investments in community needs more broadly in order to support a healthy workforce.
“If you don’t have transportation or someone to care for your kids, all the skills in the world won’t help you get and keep a good job,” Meyer said. “Many of the barriers standing between Marylanders of color and good job opportunities or decent wages are the result of choices to underinvest in basic public services. Increasing investment in things like housing, health care, and child care would improve job opportunities and strengthen communities in multiple other ways.”
Budgeting for Opportunity: Maryland’s Workforce Development Policy Can be a Tool to Remove Barriers and Expand Opportunity is available on MDCEP’s website, mdeconomy.org. A recording of the panel discussion is available on Facebook (original Zoom file available upon request). This is [Economic] Justice continues Saturday with a panel discussion on the way tax policies relate to the fight for racial justice and brief closing remarks from Maryland Senator Ben Cardin.
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About Maryland Center on Economic Policy
The Maryland Center on Economic Policy advances innovative policy ideas to foster broad prosperity and help our state be the standard-bearer for responsible public policy. We engage in research, analysis, strategic communications, public education, and grassroots alliances promoting robust debate and greater public awareness of the policy choices Maryland residents face together. mdeconomy.org @mdeconomy
