Elevating America’s Workforce
Microsoft’s efforts dovetail with federal initiatives to strengthen the nation’s skills.
The U.S. economy may be showing signs of recovery, but long-term prosperity will require a workforce with the 21st-century skills needed to spur innovation and productivity.
Although growth is expected from new, green products and services, the CEO of a green construction company recently told Congress that his industry is hobbled by a shortage of workers with solid analytic, math and decision-making skills. Other growing fields, such as health care and information technology, face the same problem.
In an increasingly competitive and technologically complex world, schools must prepare all students to succeed in college and work. And for today’s students that will require better preparation in math, science and critical thinking.
Meanwhile, adults need opportunities to update and strengthen their skills. Microsoft recently launched Elevate America to provide technology training to at least 2 million people. We support President Obama’s recent steps to make education and training more readily available to unemployed workers.
Through collaborative efforts such as these, America can improve math and science education and create a seamless job training system that puts the nation back to work.
