STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2068

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.C.R. No. 63

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 63 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS TO STUDY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HAWAII WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE AWARD PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study the establishment of a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Your Committee finds that there is often a societal emphasis on college degrees and white-collar careers, overshadowing the value of skilled trades. Your Committee further finds that a Hawaii-based program like the Meilleur Ouvrier de France, a historic competition to recognize and revitalize traditional craftsmanship in France, would elevate the importance and prestige of trades, promote career paths that do not require a traditional four-year degree, and highlight the wide range of opportunities within the skilled labor market. Your Committee believes that the Program would shift public perception of vocational and skilled trades by presenting them as prestigious and valuable career paths and encourage young people to pursue these fields.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 63 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor,

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JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair