Utah Congressman Introduces 'MATCH Act' to Modernize Workforce Connections

Proposed legislation would create digital 'talent marketplaces' to better link job seekers with employers.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:51pm

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A warm, nostalgic painting of a solitary laptop computer on a desk, with diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the digital 'talent marketplace' at the heart of the MATCH Act.The MATCH Act aims to modernize workforce connections by empowering digital 'talent marketplaces' to better link job seekers' verified skills with employers' hiring needs.South Jordan Today

Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, has introduced the Modernizing Access To Talents, Credentials, and Hiring (MATCH) Act, which would authorize states to establish digital 'talent marketplaces' to better connect workers, students, employers, and training providers based on verified skills, credentials, and work experience rather than just resumes.

Why it matters

Owens argues the current resume-based hiring system is 'outdated' and fails to capture what potential employees actually know and can do, leaving industries struggling to fill millions of job openings. The MATCH Act aims to modernize the workforce system and improve hiring efficiency by making skills and qualifications more visible and portable.

The details

The MATCH Act would provide grant funding through the Labor Department's Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for states to build and operate the digital talent marketplaces. The bill also promotes interoperability standards to ensure the marketplaces can work across state lines and accommodate worker mobility.

  • Rep. Burgess Owens introduced the MATCH Act on Thursday, April 3, 2026.
  • The House Education and Workforce Committee is expected to hold hearings on the bill in the coming weeks.

The players

Rep. Burgess Owens

A Republican congressman from Utah who is the vice chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee and chairman of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee.

Rep. Tim Walberg

A Republican congressman from Michigan who is a colleague of Owens on the House Education and Workforce Committee.

Pearson

An education technology company whose Head of Government Relations, Rosemary Lahasky, expressed support for the MATCH Act.

EBSCO

A research database company whose Vice President, Greg DiDonato, said the MATCH Act would help modernize the workforce system and meet employer demands.

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What they’re saying

“The MATCH Act helps … modernize our workforce, and connects real talent to real opportunity. No one is reduced to a line on a resume; every achievement is seen, valued, and ready to open doors of opportunity.”

— Rep. Burgess Owens

“This legislation helps close that gap by recognizing that valuable skills are gained in many ways — not just through traditional degrees — and ensuring those skills are visible, portable, and trusted. It's a win for both workers and employers, making hiring more efficient and delivering better matches with less guesswork.”

— Rep. Tim Walberg

“By supporting interoperable talent marketplaces and learning and employment records, the bill gives workers control of their data while helping employers and states make clearer, more transparent hiring decisions.”

— Rosemary Lahasky, Head of Government Relations, Pearson

“By modernizing WIOA and investing in talent marketplaces, we will meet the rapidly growing and changing demands of employers while unlocking greater opportunity across every sector of the economy for every American.”

— Greg DiDonato, Vice President, EBSCO

What’s next

The House Education and Workforce Committee is expected to hold hearings on the MATCH Act in the coming weeks to gather feedback and consider amendments before a potential vote.

The takeaway

The MATCH Act represents a bipartisan effort to modernize the nation's workforce system by leveraging digital 'talent marketplaces' to better connect job seekers' verified skills and qualifications with employers' hiring needs, potentially unlocking new opportunities for workers and addressing labor shortages across industries.