New America
Iris Palmer
November 2, 2026
Workforce Pell programs must lead to high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand jobs, and it is up to states to define those terms and create a list of occupations that conform to them. The occupation lists states produce vary wildly. Some states have long lists of occupations, while others are very targeted. States like Minnesota and Texas include high-wage and in-demand requirements in their bar for these lists, while others like Tennessee took a thoughtful approach of including a high-wage bar in their in-demand criteria. And now California has released one of the most permissive lists. California’s new list includes:
- Fast food and counter workers
- Waiters
- Dishwashers
- Dining room and cafeteria attendants
- Housekeeping cleaners
- Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Cashiers
- Retail salespersons
- Telemarketers
- Door-to-door sales workers and street vendors
- Floral designers
- Merchandise displayers and window trimmers