America is facing an unprecedented worker shortage. Here are 3 things we can do to fix it.

[Geee]

Fox News

America is in the midst of the worst worker shortage in recent memory. 

Many have heard the stories of employers offering bonuses and higher salaries in a desperate effort to fill openings.  Many have experienced delays at restaurants or stores that are short-staffed. Others have had their flights delayed or canceled because there are not enough baggage handlers, TSA agents, pilots, or flight attendants.   

Indeed, the scope of this labor shortage is unprecedented. Data from the St. Louis Federal Reserve indicates that 2022 has seen the highest number of job openings on record. Moreover, the labor force participation rate remains a full percentage point below its pre-COVID-19 levels, translating to 3 million fewer workers in the economy today.  

This is a problem that deserves our attention. Labor shortages can undermine GDP growth, fuel inflation, and stifle productive innovation and investment. Moreover, a strong and healthy labor force is needed to sustain the Medicare and Social Security benefits on which millions of seniors rely. 

While there is no silver bullet, there are a handful of steps that Congress, local governments, and this administration can take right now to help bolster the workforce and give our economy a much-needed boost. 

First, our country needs to address the growing mismatch between the skills needed to fill openings and the skills jobseekers possess. The skills gap, as this phenomenon has come to be called, is especially prevalent for technical jobs requiring more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year bachelor’s degree — think software programmers, hospital technicians, HVAC specialists, and so on.  

These are generally well-paying jobs that offer solid benefits, and the skills they require can be obtained through workforce training programs at local community colleges and technical schools. We should make these programs more accessible to Americans interested in taking advantage of them.  

One proposal from Senators Rob Portman, R-OH, and Tim Kaine, D-VA, will do just that. Their bill, The JOBS Act, would allow Pell Grants to be used at technical schools and community colleges, enabling countless Americans to receive the training they need to fill in-demand jobs that help fuel our economy. Congress should pass this legislation without delay. :snip: