BOSTON – Gov. Maura Healey on Monday revealed her administration’s workforce agenda, a four-year plan to tackle workforce and talent issues in the state. She touched on ways her administration is working to increase the talent pool in the state. 

“Our economy needs a strong workforce. People, human talent, that's always been our greatest asset as a state. And that's why our team has been so focused on many of the new programs and budget investments that we've made,” said the governor. 

The plan breaks down the workforce needs per region. In Central Mass., for example, the report says there is a need for health care workers like nurses. 

Healey highlighted programs her administration has implemented in the last year to address the workforce shortage the state has experienced since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

They include:

• Mass Reconnect: Free community college for eligible adults 25 and older
• Skills-based hiring: Would take away education degree requirements and shift focus for hiring to skills and experience

The state’s growing number of migrant families is helping fill some open positions. Healey said they can help fill the gaps in the labor market and if they are working, the families will be more self-sufficient. 

“That is why I have focused from the onset at getting work authorizations. And I'm proud that we as a state have really led when it came to getting folks processed. I've called on the federal government to act for a long, long time,” said Healey. “We've now processed 3,000 people just about for work authorization, people who right now are getting jobs, filling employment needs here across the state.”

This report is required by the federal government to be written by states every four years. 

Healey has said her goal is to retain top talent to the state. There have been several reports, including one recently from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, about the trends of people leaving Massachusetts because of how expensive it is to live in the state.