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As business leaders representing every sector of the economy, Business Roundtable members know that the American economy thrives when U.S. workers have the levels of education and training needed to succeed in the jobs of today and tomorrow. Our country needs a world-class, skilled workforce to lead in global innovation, ensure future economic growth and drive job creation.

Unfortunately, the U.S. skills gap is real and growing. According to a Business Roundtable member survey, 94 percent of CEOs report that skills gaps are problematic for their companies. This talent gap affects all skill levels – from entry level to the highly technical.

More must be done now to strengthen the education and training pipeline serving youth and working adults so that individuals have the skills needed to be prepared to work and build sustainable career paths.

Making Progress on Common Core

BRT President John Engler will join the Center for American Progress today for a discussion of the Common Core State Standards.

Education Standards: Best and the Brightest

How did Poland rise so quickly in its educational quality and student performance?

Common Core Brings Benefits to Both Education & Our Economy

America's public K-12 education system isn't making the grade. It's not adequately preparing our students to succeed in college or the modern workforce. It's not delivering the skilled workers that businesses need to drive stronger economic growth. It's not helping advance America's ability to compete and lead in the global economy. In short, it's setting our nation up to fail.

A Core Question

Concluding an interview on Common Core State Standards with a very pointed question.

Norm Augustine: High Marks for Standardized Tests

Norman R. Augustine is chairman of the National Academies’ congressionally mandated review of U.S. competitiveness. He is a former chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp.

America’s Business Leaders Applaud Senate Committee Approval of Workforce Investment Act of 2013

Washington – Business Roundtable, an association of business leaders representing every sector of the economy, today commended approval of The Workforce Investment Act of 2013 (S. 1356) by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). The legislation, which would reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), passed the committee by a bipartisan 18-3 vote. The Roundtable especially recognized the efforts of Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who introduced the bill last week.

Business Leaders Release Principles for Reauthorizing ESEA

WASHINGTON – Today the Business Roundtable, representing business leaders from every sector of the U.S. economy, released its updated Principles for the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

Bill to Reauthorize Workforce Investment Act Welcomed by America's Business Leaders

Business Roundtable, an association of business leaders representing every sector of the economy, today welcomed Senate introduction of The Workforce Investment Act of 2013 (S.B. 1356), a measure to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

Engler: Common Core can make America competitive

Read the Op-Ed in the Washington Times

By John Engler

In today’s global economy the old rules don’t apply. Students in Maryland no longer compete only with students in Virginia; now they compete with students in Helsinki, Toronto and Seoul — and they’re losing.

Accountability Provisions in The Student Success Act Fall Short of Ensuring All Graduates Are Ready for College or Career

Business Roundtable, an association of business leaders representing every sector of the economy, issued the following statement today on House passage of H.R. 5, The Student Success Act, legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

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Committee Priorities

Improve U.S. K-12 Education

A persistent complaint by employers is that many high school and college graduates – as well as some adult workers – lack foundational skills needed in the 21st century workplace. These include, for example, analyzing complex texts, adapting to new technologies and problem solving.

Rigorous academic standards in K-12 English language arts and mathematics are critical to ensuring all students graduate from high school ready for college and the workforce. Business Roundtable supports the full adoption and implementation of high-quality education standards and aligned assessments to raise the performance of U.S. students. Business Roundtable also supports policies and programs that ensure all students read on grade level by the end of third grade.

Align Individual Skills with Employer Needs

Businesses increasingly have difficulty finding employees with the knowledge and training required to meet their workforce needs. This includes both technical skills – such as aptitude in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) – and applied skills – such as leadership, problem-solving and communications abilities. This misalignment of skills exacerbates unemployment and stifles economic growth.

Business Roundtable believes a multifaceted solution, involving public and private players, is needed to address this skills mismatch problem. As a start, employers must send a clear, direct “demand signal” of the foundational attributes employees must demonstrate to succeed in the workplace; industry needs to sort out the large and chaotic world of industry credentials; state workforce boards and educational and training centers must understand job needs in each region and focus on helping students acquire the skills needed to fill those jobs; and human resources practices must improve across industry to identify competencies gained through valid credential programs and relevant experience.

Key Federal Legislation

Business Roundtable will continue to advocate for federal legislation that authorizes programs and policies that improve educational outcomes and help close the skills gap, including reauthorization of America COMPETES, the Carl D. Perkins Act and the Higher Education Act.

Committee's Recent Activities

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