Reducing Opportunity Gaps, Unleashing Potential

among them, have had persistent employment gaps, and many job opportunities have remained unfilled. Private-sector employers, postsecondary educators, and government officials have tried to fill these job openings. The federal government, for example, spends nearly $19 billion each year on job training programs, while employers probably spend more than $100 billion. Meanwhile, many people simply have given up looking for a job. In fact, the nation’s labor force participation rate declined from 66 percent to 62 percent over the last generation, indicating that millions of potential workers have dropped out of the workforce. Millions of people are missing the chance to use their talents to enrich their own lives and the lives of others. This represents a lot of human potential left on the table, and missed opportunity can lead to human misery. Working Americans spend most of the day at their jobs, so if what people do is not connected to who they are, it strips them of their dignity. This can lead to a host of problems, including burnout, anxiety, and depression, leaving the workforce altogether, addiction, and even suicide. It is time we rethink our approach to learning and work and create a new paradigm for solving employers’ skills gaps and individuals’ opportunity gaps.