Press ReleaseJune 13, 2017

Administration Highlights the Need to Fight for $50,000 Careers

The skills gap needs to be addressed through skills-based education to fill the 6 million available jobs

Atlanta—Today the Job Creators Network (JCN) applauds the administration’s support for an increased focus on vocational training. Yesterday morning on Fox and Friends, Trump senior advisor, Ivanka Trump, highlighted the need for more skills-based education in order to solve the skills gap that is facing both workers and businesses across the country. This week, Trump and his Secretary of Labor will be traveling to a Wisconsin technical school to see first-hand how skills-based education can lead to a successful career.

The administration’s support for vocational and skills-based training underscores the true problem—a skills gap, not a wage gap.  JCN launched the ‘Fight for 50’ campaign earlier this year.  The initiative focuses on fighting for $50,000 careers—not $15 mandates—and places an emphasis on equipping people with the necessary technical skills to gain one of the 6 million available job openings.

View the Fox and Friends segment here and visit fightfor50.com to learn more.

Below is a statement from JCN president and CEO, Alfredo Ortiz:

The administration has hit the nail right on the head. This country doesn’t have a wage gap, but a skills gap. There are roughly 6 million job openings in this country because business owners simply can’t find qualified candidates. Thus, we need to invest in the next generation of American workers by encouraging people to go to vocational or trade schools, as well as keeping traditional avenues of on-the-job training easily assessable. That way, those who are currently unemployed or underemployed can fill these openings—many of which pay $50,000 or more a year. Let’s work together to fight for 50.