Almost 40 percent of American employers say they cannot find people with the skills they need even for entry-level jobs, and they admit that only 50 percent of new recruits have the skills needed for their new roles. 1 Another 60 percent of employers complain of lack of preparation2 and only 42.5 3 percent feel that new hires show the required professionalism and work ethic. Yet, 89.4 percent of new graduates feel they are work-ready.

When it comes to work readiness, there is a growing disconnect between the views of employers, educators, and post-secondary graduates entering the workforce. There is no longer just a skills gap. It is an ever-widening chasm.

The half-life of skills is rapidly falling, and nearly half of business leaders surveyed today cite the upheaval in learning and careers as an urgent problem.4 Furthermore, as intelligent systems and machines reshape the world of work, tomorrow’s employees will need to learn entirely new skills for entirely new jobs. So while the skills crisis is significant today, an even greater crisis looms. Employers need to understand that if they are to solve the current and future skills gap, the time for action is now.