Shaheen, Cochran sponsor job training bill

CONCORD, N.H.-Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Thad Cochran of Mississippi have introduced legislation they say will help unemployed people find and keep jobs by expanding on-the-job training programs.

Under such programs, employers agree to hire workers that need training in exchange for a training subsidy. Shaheen, a Democrat, and Cochran, a Republican, say the programs have a good track record but are highly underutilized.

Shaheen says Congress should do everything it can to help unemployed workers gain new skills because many of the jobs that have been lost during the recession are not going to come back.

Cochran says the strength of the economy recovery depends on the ability of unemployed workers to adapt to a chancing job market.