Stephanie Ferguson Melhorn
Senior Director, Workforce & International Labor Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Published
May 15, 2025
The United States workforce is facing a significant skills gap. Many workers lack the education, training, or experience to fill the nation’s most in-demand jobs. Over the last five years, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has championed solutions to this workforce challenge, advocating for investments in workforce development, career and technical education, and skilling incumbent talent.
On May 13, McDonald’s made its first hiring announcement since 2020, revealing plans to hire up to 375,000 people across the country. Leveraging the Archways to Opportunity program, McDonald’s will continue investing in their workforce, ensuring corporate and franchisee employees are prepared to compete for their next job or promotion.
The program is an education initiative comprising multiple programs aimed at helping employees improve English skills, earn a high school diploma, work toward a college degree, and receive coaching to help make education and career plans. In just ten years, McDonald’s and participating franchisees have invested more than $240 million into Archways to Opportunity. These investments have helped more than 90,000 alumni earn their high school diplomas, pay for college, build their communication skills, and more: their success is tangible evidence of the benefits businesses and individuals reap when investments are made into their workforces.
That is why the U.S. Chamber is championing legislation that makes critical investments in job training, career and educational training, and employer-led apprenticeships. A skilled workforce not only enables workers to compete for advanced job opportunities but also strengthens the talent pool from which businesses can recruit. A productive, competitive labor market drives economic growth that benefits everyone.
To learn more about the state of our labor market, and how the Chamber is fighting to fix our workforce challenges, visit the America Works Initiative.
About the author
Stephanie Ferguson Melhorn
Stephanie Ferguson Melhorn is the Senior Director of Workforce & International Labor Policy. Her work on the labor shortage has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Associated Press.
