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KRA's The Hub Podcast - Episode #6

Opening Doors of Opportunity and Expanding the Workforce: Lessons from Pennsylvania

Featuring: Ron Painter, President and CEO, National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB)

A groundbreaking executive order in Pennsylvania removes four-year degree requirements from 92% of state jobs, impacting more than 65,000 positions and signaling a shift toward skills-based hiring. Ron Painter, President and CEO of the National Association of Workforce Boards, explores how this move can expand opportunity, reshape hiring practices, and influence national workforce policy.

This conversation highlights the potential for states and employers to tap into broader talent pools by focusing on real-world competencies rather than credentials alone. Painter shares insights from national trends, the evolving labor market, and the role of workforce boards in championing inclusive hiring.

You’ll hear insights on…

  • How Pennsylvania’s executive order could set a national precedent

  • The impact of skills-based hiring on veterans, emerging workers, and career mobility

  • The role of workforce boards in advancing talent access without credential barriers

  • Why skills-based hiring matters in a shrinking labor market

  • What to expect at the upcoming NAWB Forum in Washington, D.C.

Tune in on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to explore how states can lead the way in redefining what workforce readiness looks like . 

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