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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.

Common Core State Standards -- a Priority

Business Roundtable President John Engler appeared on William J. Bennett's "Morning in America" program this week to discuss Common Core State Standards.

The Real Story on Guestworkers in the High-skill U.S. Labor Market

From the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, "The Real Story on Guestworkers in the High-skill U.S. Labor Market."

Letter to House Education Committee on HR 1949

On behalf of the members of Business Roundtable – an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies with more than $7.3 trillion in annual revenues and nearly 16 million employees– we want to express our support for the passage of HR 19

Necessary to Compete

Doug Rothwell has it exactly right on the Common Core State Standards. America's business leaders believe implementing the standards is critical if our country is to compete effectively in the global marketplace.

To Get the Workers You Need, You Must Train Them

In his May 6 op-ed column, “The scarcity of confidence,” Robert J. Samuelson asserted that factors other than a skills gap are responsible for the lack of hiring by U.S. businesses.

Common Core is Right for Michigan

Doug Rothwell of Business Leaders for Michigan makes the case for Common Core State Standards.

Committed to Hiring Veterans

BRT-member CEOs were prominent at a White House meeting Monday on hiring and training veterans.

Business leaders back Common Core State Standards

Business Roundtable is taking a leading role in supporting Common Core State Standards.

BRT: The realistic way to immigration reform

Business Roundtable released its recommendations for immigration reform this week.

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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