Get Involved
HR professionals are in the perfect position to lead the charge.
Workforce development doesn’t just happen in policy rooms — it happens in communities.
Your voice, your leadership, and your networks can drive real progress.
You can make a difference by:
- Joining a local or regional workforce development board.
- Engaging in civic activities that support the education-to-employment pipeline.
- Organizing a Capitol Hill Day with fellow HR leaders to advocate for workforce solutions.
Want to be involved in your community but do not know where to start?
Have you considered joining a workforce development board (WDB)? WDBs are local and state bodies that help shape how workforce training and employment services are delivered in communities. These bodies create strategic workforce plans, direct federal workforce funds, and guide local training programs based on real-time labor market data. They partner with employers to ensure talent pipelines are aligned with business needs, especially in high-demand industries.
Steps to get involved:
- Download a quick FAQ for more information.
- Find WDBs in your area.
- Have you previously served on a WDB and would like to share your experience? Tell us about it! Email us at Govermentaffairs@SHRM.org.
Skills-First at Work
The SHRM Foundation is helping employers reimagine how they hire and advance talent.
Through our Skills-First at Work portfolio, we support organizations in shifting workplace practices to consider the whole human — recognizing all the ways that people gain, demonstrate, and grow their skills.
This includes:
- Moving beyond degree-based hiring requirements.
- Embracing transferable skills and lived experience.
- Designing inclusive advancement pathways.
Together, we can unlock talent potential that’s too often overlooked.
Learn more about Skills-First at Work and how your organization can get started.
Have You Considered an Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are a proven workforce development strategy that blends on-the-job training with related instruction to prepare individuals for specific occupations. Yet, many employers have not fully tapped into their potential as a competitive advantage in talent acquisition and development.
Apprenticeships offer a practical, scalable way to help employers build diverse, skills-based talent pipelines while also giving workers clear pathways to career growth, skills development, and economic mobility.
Apprenticeships can:
- Build and authenticate talent by developing workers to meet organizational needs while reinforcing core values, standards, and culture
- Improve productivity, profitability, and retention by having apprentices contribute from day one and providing career growth opportunities that strengthen engagement
- Offer paid, hands-on training with related instruction, leading to a nationally recognized credential, real-world experience, and valuable professional networks
However, according to SHRM’s 2025 Talent Trends, only 22 percent of organizations currently offer or partner with registered or customized apprenticeship programs. Yet, among those that do, 82 percent report their programs are somewhat or very effective in addressing talent shortages. The takeaway? Apprenticeships are a high-impact solution that most employers have yet to fully leverage.
Did You Know SHRM Has a Human Resource Registered Apprenticeship Program?
Despite high unemployment rates in certain sectors, employers continue to report difficulty finding qualified HR talent, while many skilled individuals are still seeking opportunities to advance and diversify the workforce. To address this gap, the SHRM Foundation created the Human Resource Registered Apprenticeship Program (HR RAP).
If you’re a business, HR RAP is an opportunity to access, develop, and retain the talent you need to grow now and in the future. If you’re a worker, it’s a chance to earn a paycheck while training for advancement in one of America’s most established career pathways. And for the SHRM Foundation, it’s another step toward creating a world of work that works for all.
Launched in 2021 by the SHRM Foundation, HR RAP provides an inclusive pathway for individuals to advance as emerging HR specialists. This 12–24-month competency-based program offers employers a reliable solution for sourcing and developing HR talent, using SHRM-developed standards to ensure apprentices gain the skills needed in today’s workplace.
Ready to Get Started?
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Spotlight on Partners
Across the U.S., SHRM members and partners are putting SHRM E2 strategies into action.
We’re proud to spotlight employers, community leaders, and workforce boards that are:
- Launching work-based learning programs.
- Strengthening school-to-career pathways.
- Building more inclusive, competency-based hiring practices.
These changemakers are modeling what’s possible and scaling what works.
We want to hear from you! Tell us what you or your organization is doing to make an impact.