Workforce and Employment

Purpose

To monitor and analyze all legislation and regulations that impact Oklahoma’s workforce and ensure businesses have an efficient and effective system to develop their workforce.

2024 Policy Positions

1. Support more Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding towards in-demand jobs. 
2. Support improving K-12 Graduation Requirements to include Career Ready and concurrent academic credit options. 
3. Support efforts to increase the available workforce by allowing Individual Tax Identification Number as an eligible means to apply for a driver’s license.  
4. Support innovative non-mandated childcare solutions for Oklahoma workforce.  
5. Support funding for summer STEM programs and access for at-risk students. 
6. Support broad education reform efforts to improve education such as STEM, literacy, and math literacy. 
7. Support strategies that address education, job training, placement and stability for justice involved individuals and incentivize second chance employers. 
8. Support efforts to increase labor force participation. 
9. Promote parent and student Right-to-Know policies and public information for post-secondary education and career opportunities. Support policy and public information on return on investment information in post-secondary opportunities.  
10. Support policies that promote collaboration between educational institutions and businesses in order to meet the workforce needs. 
11. Support better employment and training opportunities for
    population receiving government benefit programs and encouraging labor participation. 
12. Support apprenticeship and internship programs to increase the workforce in Oklahoma. 

2024 HR and Labor Policy Positions

1. The Chamber opposes state legislative efforts to undermine the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) due to the negative impact on member businesses. 
2. Oppose efforts to interfere with employer’s ability to negotiate benefits plans for employees. 
3. Oppose benefit mandates that raise the cost of health insurance for employers and employees in OK (including white bagging). 
4. Oppose new state and federal mandated private health insurance benefits that would raise costs to businesses attempting to provide quality health insurance benefits until such a time as an independent cost/benefit analysis accompanies and justifies any proposed health insurance benefit mandate. 
5. Oppose efforts that would interfere with an employer’s and employee’s freedom to contract. 
6. Oppose actions to limit employers’ ability to set their own workplace vaccination policy. 
7. Oppose expansion of state and federal mandates on employers, including but not limited to paid family and medical leave benefits and/or programs. 
8. Support business protections and property owners’ rights regarding possession of weapons. 
9. Support prompt determination for occupational licenses and permitting from the corresponding body and/or reduced fees based on the period of non-determination. 
10. Protect and defend Oklahoma’s Administrative Workers’ Compensation System. 
11. Support reforms to Oklahoma’s unemployment benefits system, including work search, job matching, program integrity. 
12. Preserve the business community’s interest in workplace safety as it relates to use of marijuana. 

Joining a Committee

State Chamber members are invited to join one or more of our committees and be a part of helping shape our policy agenda. Using the link below, you can fill out a committee application form.