PA Chamber Manager of Government Affairs Aaron Riggleman told state lawmakers today that strengthening higher education must be a central part of addressing the Commonwealth’s ongoing workforce challenges.
Testifying before the Senate Republican Policy Committee during a hearing at Lycoming College, Riggleman said employers face a shrinking labor pool, with just 66 available workers for every 100 open jobs.
“Pennsylvania cannot afford to invest in educating students only to watch them leave,” Riggleman said. “We must create compelling reasons for graduates to stay—through internships, co-op experiences, and partnerships that connect them directly with Pennsylvania employers.”
Riggleman’s testimony focused on the link between higher education and economic competitiveness. He cited examples of collaboration between colleges and employers, including nursing programs that expanded to address healthcare shortages and engineering partnerships with manufacturers.
Industry leaders also emphasized the need for stronger ties between schools and employers. Bill desRosiers, Manager of Government and External Affairs at Coterra Energy, told lawmakers his company has invested nearly $20 million in scholarships, career and technical centers, and workforce development programs across the Commonwealth.
He highlighted partnerships with Lackawanna College’s School of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Penn College of Technology, and the Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center, where initiatives such as welding, CDL training, and dual enrollment programs have opened pathways for thousands of students
DesRosiers said those investments are intentional steps to build the workforce Pennsylvania industries need. He urged lawmakers to expand funding for career and technical centers, increase access to programs like the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and the Neighborhood Assistance Program, and support innovation through immersive technologies such as virtual reality training.
“Without a skilled workforce, the energy industry cannot thrive, communities cannot grow, and Pennsylvania will struggle to attract new industries and investment,” desRosiers testified.The hearing examined higher education’s role in workforce development at a time when many Pennsylvania institutions face declining enrollment and demographic challenges. Riggleman told lawmakers that modernizing and strengthening the system is essential to ensuring long-term growth and opportunity.
Building, attracting, and retaining a world-class workforce is central to the PA Chamber’s Keystone Initiative – a private-sector-led roadmap to improve the Commonwealth’s long-term economic future through proactive policies that encourage business growth.
“This is not simply an education issue,” Riggleman testified. “It is central to Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness.”
You can read Riggleman’s full written testimony here.