The skills gap: Who should foot bill to prepare workers?

Manufacturing worker shortage
Manufacturers like Haberman Machine in Stillwater, Minn., where Mike Beedle is a quality engineer inspector, are having difficulty finding highly skilled workers. Beedle was photographed at work Friday, Jan. 13, 2012.
MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson

With unemployment numbers still high, it's surprising to hear that there are a lot of middle skill job openings going unfilled. The problem is that people looking for work don't have the skills the jobs require.

What resources do we need to train workers for these jobs? Who should foot the bill: industry or government?

Andy Van Kleunen, executive director of the National Skills Coalition, will join The Daily Circuit Wednesday to discuss closing the skills gap. Chancellor Steven Rosenstone, CEO of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, will also join the discussion.

KERRI'S TAKEAWAY

We heard from a lot of employees who said they were willing to do the training required if their company provided it.