Jobs Agenda: Education and Workforce

No competition is tougher than the global race for talent. In every industry, employers are asking the same
question: how are we going to find, train, and retain the best workers? The U.S. Chamber works to
strengthen our nation’s education system and improve our workforce training programs.

The Facts

• Most U.S. 4th and 8th graders are not proficient in reading or math.
• Thirty percent of U.S. students fail to graduate from high school in four years—and the dropout
  rate is more than 50% for African-Americans and Hispanics.
• Many of those who graduate from high school are unprepared for postsecondary education or the
  workforce. Once first in the world, America now ranks 10th in the percentage of young adults with
  a college degree.
• Approximately 90% of the jobs in the fastest-growing occupations require some level of
  postsecondary education and training.
• Eighty million to 90 million adults today—about half of the workforce—do not have the skills
  required to get or advance in jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage.

The U.S. Chamber’s Plan to Improve Our Nation’s Education and Workforce Systems

• Require a Quality, Rigorous, and Well-Rounded K–12 Educational System:
• Increase Postsecondary Completion Rates Among All Students:
  • Improve public accountability by requiring postsecondary institutions to provide clear and
    accurate information on the true costs of their programs.
  • Encourage continued private sector investment and innovation in higher education.
• Train Workers for Jobs That Meet the Actual Needs of Employers:
  • Collect accurate, timely information on industry and labor market trends to ensure that job
    recruitment and training systems meet the needs of employers.
  • Eliminate redundant and overlapping federal job training programs and give state and local
    policymakers flexibility in using funds.

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INSTITUTE FOR A COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) is the education and workforce nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. ICW promotes the rigorous educational standards and effective job training systems needed to preserve the strength of America's greatest economic resource--its workforce.

POLICY RESOURCES	EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE EXPERTS
Priorities Accomplishments Issues Search Hill Letters Testimony Regulatory Comments How They Voted	Margaret Spellings Senior Advisor to the President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce President of the U.S. Forum for Policy Innovation Learn more