A recent report from CompTIA, a leading trade association of the
information technology (IT) industry, underscores the glaring
problem of the "skills gap." A staggering 80 percent of IT
employers report that current business operations are being
adversely impacted by the skills gap. The dynamic, fast-changing
nature of technology and a lack of training resources are the
biggest factors contributing to the skills gap in IT. Moreover,
with workers in key industries like energy and advanced
manufacturing approaching retirement age, the issue is starting
to reach critical mass. The Aspen Institute's Skills for
America's Future (SAF) national initiative is working to address
the skills gap by fostering partnerships between community
colleges and businesses, bringing together leaders from the
business, community college, and workforce development worlds.
SAF helps align industry needs with credentials training offered
by community colleges. Perhaps more than any other, the IT
industry, if it is to remain viable, mu