The Penn Foster Blog

Across the skilled trades, a growing skills gap is leaving employers struggling to fill open positions " especially those that require college-level training. In an effort to address this, many employers are sponsoring education opportunities to upskill the workers they do have with the skills needed to enter new positions.

Employers in the United States have a problem. The skills gap, the space between what job seekers know and what employers need them to know, is widening, especially for middle-skills workers. Educational institutions offer degrees, but no guarantee that those credentials will lead to actual jobs for their graduates. Staffing agencies and workforce boards are operating in their individual silos, often relying on outdated philosophies.

Many businesses are turning to apprenticeship programs to help them train qualified employees. In a tight labor market, where many employers are struggling to find employees who have the right skills, apprenticeship programs just make good business sense. That may be why the number of active apprentices has grown 42% since 2013.

The growing skills gap has been felt across industries, leaving countless job opportunities open because of a lack of skilled talent. One proven practice for upskilling learners to fill those in-demand roles, especially those in the skilled trades, has been apprenticeship programs.

The best veterinary practices are built on strong veterinary health care teams. To build an exceptional team, you start with a college-educated, credentialed veterinary technician or a driven and enthusiastic person who is willing to pursue education and credentialing. Without a credentialed veterinary technician, veterinary practices are unlikely to achieve their full potential. Veterinary technicians elevate the standard of patient care, build client satisfaction, and improve their bottom line.

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending YouthBuild's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Gala in New York City. The event brought together YouthBuild leaders, program graduates, ardent supporters, and partners like Penn Foster to celebrate YouthBuild's rich history and bright future.

Employers challenged by the skills gap are turning to staffing firms to find qualified employes. Yet staffing companies are not immune to the skills gap. Just like employers, staffing companies are struggling to recruit and retain skilled talent.  To continue serving their clients, staffing companies need to go beyond placement and start upskilling and training employees for high-demand roles. This strategy will allow staffing companies to do more than overcome the skills gap, it will allow them to thrive in a whole new way.

Penn Foster is thrilled to be participating in this year's American Staffing Association Staffing World Conference next week (October 16-18) at the Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. As the largest staffing and recruiting conference in the US, Staffing World welcomes over one thousand attendees annually. As we near this year's event, we are looking forward to having the opportunity to meet with so many leaders and discuss the key trends and challenges in the staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. 

A dishwasher that won't clean, a refrigerator that won't cool, and an oven that won't heat. All of these things have something in common: they require the skills and assistance of an Appliance Repair Technician. And unfortunately, these aren't isolated moments; at some point, nearly every home appliance will need the technical expertise and assistance of a repair technician to work effectively.