U.S. Chamber Survey Highlights Workforce Gaps

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce called workforce development problems critical for U.S. business growth and success following the release of a nationwide survey conducted by the Center for Workforce Preparation – a U.S. Chamber affiliate.

"Despite a slowing economy, the outlook for new jobs in many industry sectors is good," said Beth Buehlmann, executive director, Chamber Center for Workforce Preparation. "But finding skilled workers remains a critical problem – one that will continue to grow as baby boomers near retirement."

Two-thirds of those surveyed reported severe conditions when trying to hire qualified workers and a large number of employers said job seekers have poor skills or the wrong skills for open positions. One-third of the respondents said that the lack of a skilled local labor market has a negative impact on their bottom line. Nevertheless, the survey found 30 percent of employers anticipate adding employees over the next six months.

"A large percentage of employers had a high degree of satisfaction with the skills of their current workers," continued Buehlmann. "This is good news considering that having a well-trained staff was one of the top issues cited by employers for staying competitive."

The Center for Workforce Preparation is a nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the only organization with the sole mission of helping chambers of commerce develop workforce strategies so employees of their members are fully equipped to compete in the 21st century economy. Since 1990, the Center has helped state and local chambers better engage in workforce development and promoted quality education by providing tools, models, and best practices. It has also launched a multi-year effort to help businesses improve their ability to hire, train, and advance qualified employees in this competitive and tight economy.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

# # #

01-119