Section 26. (a) As used in this section, the term ”employment value” shall mean the economic value of a particular occupation to the individual and the community, including but not limited to considerations of the entry wage, growth rate in employment, and present and projected average annual open positions for the occupation in the commonwealth.

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(b) For the purpose of promoting access to academic and technical skills that prepare the workforce for high-demand occupations in the commonwealth, the executive office of labor and workforce development shall provide the department of elementary and secondary education, annually, not later than February 1, a list of occupations in high-demand industries in the commonwealth that either require an industry-recognized certification or for which such certification will materially enhance a job applicant’s opportunities for employment or increased compensation. The list shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the related workforce needs and shortages in each region of the commonwealth; and (ii) recommendations on potential courses and programming in public schools that can effectively contribute to providing credentials for high-demand industries in the commonwealth. The list shall include occupations with high employment value; provided, that the top 20 per cent of occupations shall be high-demand occupations; provided, however, that no occupation shall be included on the list which has an annual salary or wage in an amount less than 70 per cent of the average annual salary or wage in the commonwealth, unless the certification for such an occupation is stackable to another industry certification and required for the next level of occupation which does meet the 70 per cent wage criterion.

(c) The executive office of labor and workforce development, in consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education, shall make the list created pursuant to subsection (b) available to all school districts in the commonwealth and post the list publicly on the executive office of labor and workforce development’s website.