Jill Biden returning to Pittsburgh to tout workforce training efforts

First Lady Jill Biden is coming back to Pittsburgh on Wednesday to discuss the region’s workforce development with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.

This is the second recent visit for Biden, who traveled to the Pittsburgh International Airport in July to tout President Joe Biden’s economic plan and praise the Pittsburgh region’s workforce development programs, like providing on-site childcare for union workers constructing the new airport terminal.

Pittsburgh was named a “workforce hub” earlier this year, one of only five throughout the country. Workforce hub designation will mostly provide funds and assistance to existing workforce training systems in programs in the Pittsburgh area, according to U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su.

Biden will be joined by Su on Wednesday afternoon. Both will meet with Gainey, as well as local employers, educational institutions, unions, community partners, and Partner4Work, the region’s workforce development coordinator.

The meeting’s location has not yet been announced.

Recently, the Pittsburgh workforce hub launched a new program with the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute and New Century Careers that will provide new, rapid, short-term, employer-driven training to help dislocated workers re-enter the workforce in good quality, high-demand manufacturing jobs, according to the Department of Labor.

The first lady’s visit comes one year ahead of the 2024 election and as the president’s current approval rating is low among Pennsylvanians. Biden has been slightly trailing former President Donald Trump in recent state polls.