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'State of the Workforce' report: county faces aging population, labor-force drop and training gaps, Employ Prince George's says
Summary
Walter Simmons of Employ Prince George's briefed council on a four-year workforce report showing population growth concentrated among older residents, declining labor-force participation since COVID, sector shortages in health care, hospitality and construction, and concerns that the state's training-provider list lacks performance requirements.
Walter Simmons, president and CEO of Employ Prince George's, told the council on Oct. 1 that the county's new four-year workforce report shows population growth that is not translating into more working-age residents, a post‑COVID decline in labor-force participation, and persistent shortages in several in-demand industries.
"The state of workforce report is generated every 4 years to ensure that the plan is a data driven plan and alignment with economic trends," Simmons said, summarizing the report released Sept. 18 and explaining that the local plan is due to the Maryland Department of Labor in April 2025. Simmons told the council that the county's population growth in some municipalities (Brentwood, Upper Marlboro) contrasts with declines in others (Cheltenham, Laurel) and that younger cohorts are shrinking while older cohorts are increasing. He highlighted that 76% of working residents commute outside Prince George's County for work and that 65% of county jobs are held by non‑residents. "76% of working residents commute to work outside of Prince George's County and 65% of our county jobs are filled by non Prince George's County residents," Simmons said.
Simmons also raised concerns about training-provider quality under Maryland's Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL), saying the state currently imposes no performance threshold to be listed and that only a minority of approved programs produce completions and growth. "There also is isn't any monitoring that's required... right now, there is a 0% requirement to get on the state list," he said, urging either administrative changes at the Maryland Department of Labor or legislation in Annapolis if the state agency does not act.
