Scialabba tackles workforce crisis
CRANBERRY TWP — State Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th, hosted the House Republican Policy Committee at the municipal building Thursday to address workforce shortages.
“In order for Pennsylvania to be competitive against surrounding states, we must be leaders of innovation,” Scialabba said. “The success of small businesses is a critical component of our economy, and it starts with addressing the workforce shortages plaguing our employers.”
Six organizations and local business owners were invited to testify on the issue for the committee and the public.
Jeff Nobers, executive director of the Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh Works Together, believes the issue is complex.
“We continue to lose population across our state,” Nobers said. “We are approaching — if not already — at a crisis level. Two-thirds of Pennsylvania’s counties lost population from 2010 to 2020, a combination of residents moving away and deaths outnumbering births.”
For Nobers, the solution is incentive and opportunity. He suggested balancing environmental stewardship with economic growth, while implementing realistic and consistent regulation and policy — policy that draws people to the state and keeps them here.
