League for Innovation in the Community College Spring 2020 | Page 11

T
he United States is at the front end of the greatest earlier in their career exploration and education
talent shortage in its history. The combination of selection process.
unprecedented global competition, historic low
unemployment rates, unacceptable high school dropout The primary problem is not the tight labor market, innovation
rates, and the departure of 80 million baby boomers from the moving faster than our ability to train talent, or the lack of
workforce requires better talent supply chain models. workforce development and training resources. The challenge
is that we have so many siloed, overlapping efforts that are
Attracting, growing, and retaining talent has become a battle not strategically aligned at the local, state, and national levels.
cry across industry, with many companies and communities Students and job seekers are confused and cannot find the
scrambling to develop solutions. Specifically, aerospace, information they need when they need it to make informed
manufacturing, construction, IT/cyber, and health care are career and training decisions.
all concerned about their future talent needs; the problem
is exacerbated by the fact that they are all facing the same Approximately 75 percent of U.S. high school students
challenge. Many groups are trying to create their own one- believe they must earn a four-year degree to secure a
off industry-focused programs to reach students and families rewarding career. In reality, about 20 percent of future careers
SPRING 2020
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