Some tech companies considering expansion to the heartland worry about finding local talent. That’s the skills gap. Meanwhile, many workers there, even if they were to acquire the skills sought by tech companies, don’t see ready demand for them. That’s the opportunity gap.
And as the conversation around bridging the tech and economic divide progresses, it’s apparent that these vexing gaps are not only intertwined, but present a chicken and egg challenge.Yesterday, President Donald Trump took an important step toward addressing one of them. He signed an executive order, Expanding Apprenticeships in America, and unveiled initiatives designed to address the skills gap. The order more than doubles federal funding for new apprenticeship training programs, from $90 million to $190 million.
“Apprenticeships place students into great jobs without the crippling debt of traditional four-year college degrees,” Mr. Trump said, describing the potential benefits of the executive order. “Instead apprentices earn while they learn.”
The executive order…
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