2019 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Jobs


Mike DeWine: State can create job opportunities for disabled

Even though the economy is going well, many Ohioans still struggle. We have a shocking number of our fellow citizens with disabilities who are unemployed or grossly underemployed. This is wrong. And so, we are going to invest more resources into initiatives that increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. We are going to help businesses in Ohio through enhanced opportunity zones.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Ohio legislature Mar 5, 2019

Roy Cooper: NC Job Ready: state helps train students, handle expenses

There are thousands of jobs available from advanced manufacturing to construction to technology in health care, jobs that offer better pay, yet employers tell me they struggle to find the skilled workers they need. That's why we started NC Job Ready, a program that trains workers in the skills employers need. Our finish line grants help community college students living on the economic edge when they face unexpected costs like car repairs, medical emergencies, and childcare.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to North Carolina congress Feb 25, 2019

J.B. Pritzker: Increase number of minority businesses for state contracts

We can grow our economy and make it more inclusive by taking advantage of the talent among the diverse people of our state. That's why we must promote the development of sustained wealth in black and brown communities by being purposeful about increasing the number of minority-owned businesses eligible for state procurement opportunities and by attracting private capital to build out new businesses and jobs in Opportunity Zones.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Illinois legislature Feb 20, 2019

Matt Bevin: Right-to-work instead of prevailing wage

Bevin praised the legislature for enacting right to work, and a repeal of prevailing wage. He said those changes have contributed to nearly $18 billion in new private capital investments and almost 50,000 new jobs for the state.
Source: Press release on Kentucky 2019 State of the State address Feb 9, 2019

Tom Wolf: State to be pro-active in connecting employers to workers

We have workers aging out of our workforce, and too often the next generation of worker is not there or doesn't have the skills to replace them. If we can't strengthen our workforce, we will fall behind. That's why we are going to do something a little different. We are going to put together a Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center. Agency secretaries are going to meet each week to make sure no workforce effort walks alone or falls through some crack in the state government.

If the Department of Community and Economic Development knows a company that needs 20 welders and the Department of Labor and Industry has a welding program, we're going to connect them. If a labor union is having trouble establishing a training program because of antiquated procedures, then we need to fix it. If a business can't hire a worker because of an out-of-date or unnecessary rule or regulation, we need to know about it so we can take action.

Source: 2019 State of the State address to Pennsylvania legislature Feb 5, 2019

John Carney: Investment in new jobs means drop in unemployment

Over the past two years, and thanks in large part to the work of many of you, we have 10,000 new jobs in Delaware. Our unemployment rate has fallen to 3.8 percent for the first time since 2008. Working with you, we signed an agreement to bring hundreds o
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Delaware legislature Jan 17, 2019

Mike Parson: Fast Track: scholarships for technical training

Governor Parson announced $22 million towards a new scholarship program called Fast Track, which will allow Missourians to receive training in high-demand areas largely taught at our community colleges, technical schools, colleges, and universities. The Governor also announced $10 million towards a new fund known as Missouri One Start, which is an increase and consolidation of the Missouri Works program, aimed at assisting new and existing businesses with upgrading their workers' skills to build out their workforce needs. Further, he announced $16 million for the creation of Missouri Excels, a program for Missouri Higher Education Institutions to develop and expand employer-driven education, training programs, and initiatives to increase career readiness.
Source: Press release on 2019 Missouri State of the State address Jan 16, 2019

Steve Sisolak: Raise minimum wage from $7.25

Too many Nevadans are making too little. That needs to change and it needs to start by giving Nevadans a well-earned raise. Even as our economy improves, too many folks are still working two jobs to get by--even more are living paycheck to paycheck. That's why I am committed to working with the legislature--and the business and labor communities--to raise the minimum wage in our state. It's impossible for an individual, let alone a family, to live on $7.25 an hour.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Nevada legislature Jan 16, 2019

Gina Raimondo: Training for changing job market

The reality is that 70 percent of jobs in Rhode Island require more training and education than just a high school diploma, but they don't all require a four-year degree. It's on us to make sure that every Rhode Islander has the job training and education they need to get a good job. Real Jobs Rhode Island now gives [those] in the middle of their career the new skills they need in a changing economy. Real Jobs alone has trained and placed more than 2,000 Rhode Islanders into good, solid jobs.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Rhode Island legislature Jan 15, 2019

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Raise minimum wage from $7.50 to $12

More than 110,000 New Mexicans make $7.50 an hour. This is a poverty wage. And I do not intend to lead a state where we simply tolerate poverty in our communities. No one who works hard in this state will be left behind--which means we will send a very clear message to New Mexico families by making $7.50 an hour a thing of the past. Ten dollars now, 12 dollars soon, and an index to inflation so the rate is fair forever after that.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Mexico legislature Jan 15, 2019

Peter Ricketts: Developing Youth Talent: connect 7,000 Nebraskans

I am recommending the expansion of the Developing Youth Talent Initiative to connect more middle school students to opportunities in manufacturing and IT with an additional $1.25 million annually. This program has already impacted 7,000 students, and this expansion will help reach even more. Working together to create more pathways, we can help connect more Nebraskans with the countless great opportunities available in communities statewide.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Nebraska legislature Jan 15, 2019

Phil Bryant: Apprenticeship program boosts economy

Our success in growing the economy is demanding that our focus on workforce be sharpened like never before. Workforce development must be and has now become our highest priority. Our plan utilizes every community college as a Workforce Center of Excellence. Apprenticeship programs couple students with private companies to help them launch careers in targeted industries in their communities. These young workers have more opportunity than ever before now.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Mississippi legislature Jan 15, 2019

Phil Murphy: Raise minimum wage to $15

Our minimum wage workers got a 25-cent per hour increase on January 1--a scant $10 more on a 40-hour work week. That's completely inadequate. A $15 dollar an hour minimum wage will give more than one million families a stronger foothold in the middle class and allow those who aspire to enter the middle class the means to do so. The people this will help are the same people all of us rely on - maintenance workers, child-care workers and home health aides, security guards, and many more.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature Jan 15, 2019

Doug Ducey: Universal recognition for out-of-state occupational licenses

If people want to work, let's let them work! 100,000 people will move here this year. There's a job available for every one of them. Lots of them are trained and certified in other states. Standing in their way of earning a living in Arizona, our own licensing boards, and their cronies who tell them--"You can't work here. You haven't paid the piper."

Let's stop this foolishness. Pass the bill to grant universal recognition for all occupational licenses-- and let them work. And before those unelected boards feign outrage--let's remember: workers don't lose their skills simply because they move to Arizona.

And, in the name of good government, let's have the bullies on these boards answer three questions: what do you exist to do, how do you know if you're doing it well, and who would miss you if you were gone?

Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Arizona legislature Jan 14, 2019

Ned Lamont: Better training and support for workers: STEM and vo-tech

We must bring our workforce into the 21st century, starting with STEM and coding in K-12, and access to higher education, vo-tech and apprenticeships. That also means bringing the workplace into the 21st century, including paid family leave to make sure that parents don't have to choose between the child they love and the job they need. It also means a $15 minimum wage, responsibly and over time, so parents can afford to provide for their children without working three jobs.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Connecticut legislature Jan 9, 2019

Charlie Baker: Public private partnerships: Over 200,000 jobs created

Our regulatory reform project reduced the complexity of state government across the board, allowing our small businesses to become more competitive in a dynamic economy.

And our 'get stuff done' approach with public private partnerships in economic development, advanced manufacturing, robotics and smart materials has created jobs and opportunity across the Commonwealth.

As a result, our economy is booming. We have more people working than at any time in state history. Over 200,000 jobs have been created since we took office. Our labor force participation rate is at an all-time high. And people are moving to Massachusetts because we offer good jobs and opportunity.

Source: 2019 Massachusetts governor inaugural (State of the State) Jan 3, 2019

  • The above quotations are from 2019 Governor's State of the State speeches.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Jobs.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Ralph Northam on Jobs.
  • Click here for more quotes by Charlie Baker on Jobs.
Candidates and political leaders on Jobs:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R)
Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R)
Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Apr 02, 2019