Project
Supporting Puerto Rico's Disaster Recovery Planning
Sep 30, 2020
A strategic goal of the post-hurricane recovery plan for Puerto Rico is developing a modern workforce. Authors describe a course of action for a workforce development system that addresses workforce shortages and brings longer-term benefits to individuals, the community, and the economy. This system includes strong K through postsecondary education and career pathways, and aligns training with the evolving labor market and local business needs.
Challenges and Options for Improving Puerto Rico's Workforce System Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017
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One strategic goal in the post-hurricane recovery plan for Puerto Rico is the development of a modern workforce with relevant skills to meet the demands of an evolving labor market. To begin, Puerto Rico must first overcome the acute workforce challenges and structural problems that have impeded economic growth for more than a decade. The authors set out a course of action that strengthens the K–12 and post-secondary education and training system, develops career pathways for individual workers that would improve their employment trajectories, and better aligns workers' skills with employment opportunities and the needs of local businesses.
More specifically, the authors present four strategies to address short-term workforce shortages and needs. A critical fifth strategy then reimagines Puerto Rico's entire workforce development system to support Puerto Rico's economic development and community well-being. This longer-term strategy can be implemented in tandem with any of the short-term strategies, depending on which strategies the government of Puerto Rico decides to implement. Any long-term workforce development policies or strategies must, however, encompass training and education across the spectrum of education levels, from high school diplomas to technical certificates to master's degree and higher. The report includes recommendations to improve Puerto Rico's workforce development system cross-industry and specific recommendations for construction, health care, energy, and education industries. With government-industry-education planning, these longer-term policies and initiatives could better link job opportunities by municipality, occupation, and industry and ultimately propel economic development in Puerto Rico.
Chapter One:
Introduction
Chapter Two:
Historical Context and Current Challenges for the Workforce System in Puerto Rico
Chapter Three:
Acute Workforce Needs as Puerto Rico Recovers from Hurricanes Irma and Maria
Chapter Four:
Macro Estimates of Labor Supply Constraints to Puerto Rico's Recovery
Chapter Five:
Strategies for Developing a Workforce in Puerto Rico to Meet Short- and Long-Term Needs
Chapter Six:
Implementing the Workforce Development System Framework to Support a 21st-Century Workforce in Puerto Rico
Chapter Seven:
Conclusions
Appendix A:
Full Text of Economic Team's Implement Workforce Development Programs COA
Appendix B:
Data Sources and Analytic Approaches
Appendix C:
Postsecondary Institutions in Puerto Rico, December 2018
Appendix D:
Recommendation to Improve Puerto Rico's Workforce Development System by Industry
This research was sponsored by FEMA and conducted within the Strategy, Policy and Operations Program of the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center.
This report is part of the RAND Corporation Research report series. RAND reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.
The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.