Jim Walsh

Background

About Jim Walsh

The ‘‘skills gap’’ in the United States is serious as ten million new skilled workers are needed by 2020. Middle-skill jobs, which require education beyond high school but not a four-year degree, make up the largest part of America’s labor market. Key industries in United States are unable to find enough sufficiently trained workers to fill these jobs. From now through 2024, 48 percent of job openings will be middle-skill. Here is how to do better. On the one hand, almost 40 percent of American employers say they cannot find people with the skills they need, even for entry-level jobs. Almost 60 percent complain of lack of preparation, even for entry-level jobs. On the other hand, this “skills gap” represents a massive pool of untapped talent, and it has dire consequences, including economic underperformance, social unrest, and individual despair. The skills gap takes different forms. In some cases, it is a matter of youth struggling to enter the workforce; in others, it is midcareer learners who have lost their jobs because of factory closings or layoffs, and who now must adapt. Whatever the circumstance, when people are disconnected from the workplace, they often disconnect from other social institutions as well. This is not healthy—neither for those left out nor for the societies in which they live. I work directly with private career colleges, industry, and correctional education. I partner with these institutions to implement G-W instructional materials that improve student retention, contribute to successful job placement, and support institutional accreditation. Specialties:* Instructional Material (Print/Online Textbooks)* Instructor-led Online Course Material * Career and Technical Education (CTE)* Career Readiness * Workforce Development * State & National Workforce Development * Educator development * State Education and Workforce Agendas * Educational Technology Integration Contact me today: jwalsh@g-w.com