In May 2018, unemployment fell to 3.8 percent in the United States, which is as low as it has been in nearly 50 years. With the new tax reform in place, employers have been hiring new employees at a historic rate. The only problem with such a boost in jobs is that training often fails to keep up. Thankfully, that trend is being broken.
This high-energy growth environment presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is that companies must find more workers with specific skill sets to fill an increasing number of open jobs. The opportunity is that with more affordable, relevant training, many American workers will now have the chance to move into better jobs that deliver bigger paychecks.
The National Council for the American Worker, established by President Donald Trump, comprises senior administration officials charged with developing a national strategy for training the workers needed across high-demand industries. The group will include representatives from the public, private, education, labor, and not-for-profit sectors to enhance employment opportunities for Americans of all ages.
Most important, they will focus on getting results. That task begins by asking companies and trade groups across the country to sign the new Pledge to America's Workers—committing to expand programs that educate, train, and reskill American workers from high school age to near-retirement. The pledge is predicted to create at least 6 million training opportunities.
