The United States is experiencing a persistently high unemployment rate. Yet there are approximately 3 million jobs that go unfilled. Why? A combination of factors explains the paradox, including rapid changes in technology; increasing skills demands from employers; and globalization, which has impacted the labor market in an unprecedented manner. While narrowing this skills gap itself will not solve the unemployment situation in the United States, addressing this challenge is a key part of the solution.

Many agree that an increasing number of American jobs now require some training beyond high school, making the demand for workers to obtain meaningful skills credentials increasingly more important. For a growing number of American workers, a strong back and a willing heart will no longer suffice.

Not all good jobs require a four-year degree, but a majority of them require some postsecondary education. Community colleges are well-positioned to provide job seekers with the skills and education they need. Help Wanted, a study published in 2010 by the Georgetown University Center for Education and Workforce, notes that by 2018, 63 percent of jobs will require at least an associate’s degree.

American businesses also recognize the skills gap challenge. With the support of a number of noteworthy businesses, Skills for America’s Future was launched in October of 2010 to meet this challenge.

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