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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.

America’s Business Leaders Release Key Principles for Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization

Business Roundtable released key principles for reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), encouraging policymakers to embrace them to “ensure a far more effective and efficient workforce investment system in this nation.”

Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act

As Congress moves forward with the long-overdue reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Business Roundtable encourages policymakers to embrace the following principles to ensure a far more effective and efficient workforce investment system in this nation.

Building coalitions for immigration reform

Illinois business leaders came together this week to call for immigration reform.

Alas, U.S. schools in the middle of the pack

America Achieves today released a new report that shows middle-class U.S. schools falling short of schools in the OECD.

For a healthier economy and national security, immigration reform

With the apparent progress in the U.S. Senate on immigration reform, it's worth taking another look at BRT's position.

Workforce Investment Act Should Be Reauthorized Without Delay, Say America's Business Leaders

Business Roundtable, representing CEOs of leading U.S. companies from every sector of the economy, today urged reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and called for an increased focus on education and training that lead to credentials valued by employers.

Recognizing excellence in community colleges

BRT President John Engler and former Education Secretary Richard Riley announced the winners of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence on Tuesday.

Hiring veterans

First Lady Michelle Obama will speak to the Business Roundtable Wednesday, urging CEOs to hire veterans and their spouses.

High-skilled immigration, a global issue

A recent article in the German news magazine, Der Spiegel, shows how advanced economies benefit from high-skilled immigrants.

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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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