Priority Recommendations

Priority Recommendations RECOMMENDED The Governor should establish a Cabinet of Economic & Talent Development STATE GOALS with the authority to align state agencies around measurable economic, education, and workforce outcomes. The Cabinet should be composed of RANK leaders from relevant state agencies and charged with accelerating coordination TOP TOP 10 10 across agencies, breaking down silos, and driving accountable, results-oriented MATH & READING strategies tied to Oregon’s long-term competitiveness. The Cabinet should lead and implement a statewide Talent Alignment Strategy to align Oregon’s K-12, EXPAND community college, university, and workforce development systems across STEM & AI rural and urban communities around measurable economic and workforce PROGRAMS outcomes, while looking for opportunities to streamline and consolidate boards and councils. The strategy should build from the recently released Oregon EXPAND Talent Assessment and must establish ambitious statewide goals tied directly CAREER- CONNECTED to Oregon’s long-term competitiveness, including making Oregon a top 10 state LEARNING in math and reading proficiency and significantly expanding STEM, AI and related CTE retraining and upskilling, career-connected learning, CTE, apprenticeships, bridge APPRENTICESHIPS programs, dual credits, and industry partnerships. The Cabinet should propose BRIDGE PROGRAMS DUAL CREDITS legislation that would require adoption of proven best practices and explore policy INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS levers, including preemption where necessary, to ensure consistent statewide implementation and accountability. Oregon should build on emerging sector- based workforce consortia and better align education and training with industry demand. Oregon’s education and workforce systems must operate as a coordinated talent pipeline that prepares students for high-demand industries, attracts employers and families, and creates long-term pathways to family-wage careers in Oregon. Strategically align higher education funding to match West Coast states and support Oregon’s long- term economic competitiveness. Oregon’s universities and community colleges are critical drivers of workforce development, research, innovation, and business growth. The state should modernize higher education funding structures to better support industry partnerships, applied research, technology commercialization, and enrollment growth in high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. The Legislature should also commit to ongoing funding of the University Innovation Research Fund (UIRF) at $20 million per biennium to leverage matching federal research and innovation investments and strengthen Oregon’s position in nationally competitive industries.

30 - OREGON PROSPERITY COUNCIL | RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OREGON’S LONG-TERM COMPETITIVENESS AND PROSPERITY | JUNE 2026

5 . TA L E NT D E V E L O P M E NT BEST PRACTICES The National Talent Strategy, published by the Bipartisan Policy Center, calls for a coordinated, data-driven approach that aligns education, workforce, and industry systems to better connect people to jobs and meet evolving economic needs. Oregon can lead by implementing this model at the state level, aligning agencies and funding, building an integrated system to track outcomes, and adapting programs to meet industry demand. The Florida 2030 Blueprint demonstrates how states can align education and workforce strategies with economic development goals by identifying high-demand occupations, establishing measurable talent targets, and connecting K-12, postsecondary, and workforce systems to the skills employers need most.

Parent: Chapter 5: Talent Development · PDF: pp. 30-31