As someone who spent over two decades building businesses, and two terms in the Virginia House of Delegates, I’ve learned that workforce development is not just an economic imperative — it’s a shared responsibility. That’s why I was pleased to see Abigail Spanberger’s new Growing Virginia plan put real emphasis on expanding apprenticeships, career-connected learning, and workforce training across the Commonwealth.
This is a smart policy move. It recognizes that the path to prosperity isn’t one-size-fits-all.
While four-year degrees are the right path for many, they are not the only answer. Virginia’s colleges and universities have a critical role to play in workforce development — not just through traditional degrees, but through short-term credentials, industry-recognized certificates, and skills-based learning programs. Our higher education system can and should serve as a direct engine of economic mobility, particularly when aligned with employer needs.
When I served in the General Assembly, I introduced and passed HB 2101, which directed the Board of Education to support High School to Work Partnerships — creating local pipelines between public schools and businesses for apprenticeships, internships, and job shadowing in trades and skilled labor. That legislation wasn’t about slogans. It was about results. And it laid the groundwork for aligning education with the real needs of our economy.
Spanberger’s plan builds on that law with a modern understanding of today’s workforce challenges. Her proposals include creating new apprenticeship opportunities, supporting dual enrollment options for high school students, and supporting partnerships between local employers, school divisions, and higher education institutions to expand access to in-demand training programs. That’s the kind of public-private collaboration Virginia needs.
But there’s more. The plan outlines a comprehensive approach that includes developing regional workforce strategies, accelerating credential and certification pathways, and expanding access to career and technical education programs. These efforts reflect a practical, forward-looking strategy to align education with economic opportunity — and they send a clear message: Virginia is serious about preparing its workforce for the jobs of tomorrow.
I’m particularly encouraged by the plan’s emphasis on removing barriers to employment. Spanberger proposes expanding access to affordable childcare, improving paid family and medical leave, and increasing broadband access — challenges that often disproportionately impact rural Virginians, working parents and adult learners. Addressing these issues alongside workforce training is both smart and necessary if we want all Virginians to have a fair shot at opportunity.
This isn’t a partisan issue. It’s common sense.
While pursuing my doctorate in Leadership and Learning in Organizations at Vanderbilt University, my research included the intersection of higher education and workforce readiness. The data is clear: students and workers who engage in hands-on training — whether through apprenticeships, stackable credentials or community college programs — are more employable, more adaptable and better positioned for long-term success.
Spanberger’s focus on regionally tailored strategies and public-private partnerships responsive to local employer needs is also worth noting. These are the levers we must pull if we want to future-proof our economy. We’ve long seen the consequences of disconnected systems. This approach aims to connect the dots — between students and employers, rural communities and growing industries, and learning and earning.
And it’s consistent with her position on Right to Work, a position I publicly praised in a previous op-ed. Her recognition that workforce policy should be about empowerment, not politics, is honest and encouraging. Virginia’s economic strength depends on attracting and retaining both talent and investment. That means staying competitive, flexible, and focused on building ladders of opportunity — not barriers.
This is not to say I agree with every aspect of her plan or every policy she supports. But on this issue — creating more pathways to good-paying careers — she’s offering a roadmap that reflects both practicality and vision.
We should welcome serious proposals that tackle real problems. Apprenticeships, short-term credentials, dual enrollment and workforce-aligned programs won’t fix everything, but they are proven tools. And in a state as diverse and dynamic as Virginia, expanding those tools is not just good policy — it’s essential leadership.
David Ramadan, Ed.D., served in the Virginia House of Delegates as a Republican representing Loudoun and Prince William counties from 2012 to 2016. He is a professor of practice at George Mason University’s Schar School and a scholar at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.