The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) held a public meeting recently on the current and future state of the U.S. workforce, with a focus on the persistent “skills gap” and growing skilled labor shortage affecting many industries and employers.
The so-called “skills gap” — generally referred to as the difference in the technical skills required on the job by an employer and the actual skills possessed by the available workforce — is an often researched and discussed problem that for many years has challenged U.S. employers and public policymakers to find solutions.
The EEOC hearing featured six invited subject-matter expert panelists, notably only one of whom represented the employer perspective. The panelists discussed the breadth of the skills gap problem, especially in the manufacturing, technology, and construction sectors, and offered various suggestions on ways to narrow the gap.
NT Lakis attorneys prepared and submitted brief written comments underscoring the proactive measures being taken by some employers to address the skills gap. Copies of the panelists’ statements as well as other information about the April 5, 2017, meeting are available here.
Members of the Equal Employment Advisory Council (EEAC) can read more here.