Publications

Skills Mismatch

The lack of access to skills training hurts workers and businesses

Every day, in communities across our nation, small and medium businesses are looking to hire skilled workers - people trained for jobs in growing industries like healthcare, medical technology, IT, software, and advanced manufacturing - as well as tradespeople like plumbers and electricians.

Many of these jobs require education and training beyond high school but not a four-year degree. These kind jobs are the very backbone of the American economy and they depend on a skilled workforce ready to fill them.

But too few workers have access to the skills and training they need to land in-demand jobs businesses are hiring for.

In fact, a majority of jobs (52%) require skills training beyond a high school, but not a four-year degree. But too few of America's workers — just 43% — have had access to the skills training necessary to fill these in-demand positions.

This skills mismatch hurts working people, the businesses that want to hire them, and our economy at large.

Without access to inclusive, high-quality skills training, workers are locked out of opportunities to succeed, and local businesses can’t expand.

Download the US Skills Mismatch Fact Sheet

Download state fact sheets here: