Utah Representatives Blake Moore (UT-01) and Burgess Owens (UT-04) have introduced the Modernizing Access to Talents, Credentials, and Hiring (MATCH) Act of 2026, a bipartisan workforce reform bill aimed at replacing the country’s degree-centric hiring model with a skills-based system driven by verified credentials and portable employment records.
Why It Matters
For millions of American workers, a lack of a four-year degree has long acted as a barrier to employment — even when those workers possess proven, in-demand skills. The MATCH Act seeks to dismantle that barrier by shifting federal workforce policy toward competency-based hiring, giving workers more control over how their experience and credentials are recognized and shared across employers and state lines.
The legislation directly impacts how states administer workforce development programs, the tools available to job seekers, and how employers screen and hire candidates — changes with significant economic consequences for workers and businesses alike.
What Happened
Representatives Moore and Owens introduced the MATCH Act of 2026 on April 10, 2026. The bill authorizes states to develop digital talent marketplaces that connect workers to jobs and training opportunities based on verified skills and credentials rather than traditional resumes alone.
The legislation supports the creation of portable learning and employment records, allowing workers to carry their verified qualifications across jobs, programs, and state lines. It also establishes credential registries to clearly define what degrees, certificates, and training programs represent in terms of actual skills and competencies.
Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg voiced support for the measure, stating that the bill “moves skills-based hiring a meaningful step forward by modernizing how skills, credentials, and jobs connect.”
Industry organizations have also backed the proposal. Rosemary Lahasky, Head of Government Relations at Pearson, said the bill “gives workers control of their data while helping employers and states make clearer, more transparent hiring decisions.” Greg DiDonato, Vice President at EBSCOed, added that modernizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) would “unlock greater opportunity across every sector of the economy for every American.”
By the Numbers
- 4 Utah congressional districts represented between the two co-leads, Moore (UT-01) and Owens (UT-04)
- 6 core provisions outlined in the bill, including talent marketplace authorization, portable learning records, credential registries, data quality grants, public transparency websites, and interoperability standards
- 1 grant program established — the Workforce Data Quality Initiative — funded through existing WIOA appropriations, requiring no new mandatory spending
- All 50 states eligible to develop and benefit from state-led talent marketplaces under the bill’s framework
Zoom Out
The MATCH Act reflects a growing national movement toward skills-based hiring that has gained momentum across both the public and private sectors. Dozens of states have already begun reducing four-year degree requirements for government jobs, and major employers from technology to manufacturing have followed suit by prioritizing demonstrable competencies over academic credentials.
At the federal level, reforming WIOA has been a recurring policy priority, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle acknowledging that the current system often fails to connect workers with employers efficiently. The MATCH Act’s state-led approach aligns with conservative principles of limited federal control, empowering states to build workforce systems tailored to their own labor markets.
The emphasis on worker data portability and reduced bureaucratic friction stands in contrast to approaches in other states that have expanded government administration of labor programs. As debates over union rules and workforce accountability continue in states like Florida, where SB 1296 has sparked discussion over public worker union rules, the MATCH Act offers a market-driven alternative centered on individual opportunity and employer flexibility.
Utah’s broader investment in education and workforce development also provides useful context. Utah Valley University recently closed its landmark EverGREEN Campaign after raising more than $254 million for students — a signal that Utah institutions are actively expanding access to credentials and training pathways that could integrate seamlessly with a skills-based hiring framework like the one the MATCH Act envisions.
What’s Next
The MATCH Act of 2026 has been introduced in the House and will next move through the legislative process, including potential review by the House Education and Workforce Committee. Chairman Walberg’s public endorsement may accelerate committee consideration.
If passed, states would be authorized to begin building talent marketplace platforms and implementing portable learning record systems using existing WIOA funding. No implementation timeline was specified in the bill’s introduction, but the framework is designed for phased adoption at the state level.