WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- President Barack Obama said Monday he’d be “very interested” in finding ways to lower the corporate tax rate so U.S. companies operating overseas aren’t disadvantaged.

Obama’s remarks came at a meeting of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, where he discussed tax policy, education and training with members of the board including its head, former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker.

Tea-party activists in their own words

The top U.S. corporate tax rate is 35%, making it the second-highest in the world, behind Japan.

Jim Owens, the chairman of Caterpillar Inc., and General Electric Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt were among attendees at the board’s meeting. The board’s members also include representatives of labor unions and academic institutions.

In the meeting, Obama reiterated his support for extending tax cuts for middle-class Americans but letting George W. Bush-era tax breaks expire on those earning more than $250,000 a year.

“They have to pay slightly higher taxes,” Obama said.

Obama’s remarks echo recent comments made last week by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In an interview on the NewsHour, the California Democrat said she’d be willing to lower the corporate tax rate if Congress closes loopholes and makes other reforms.

At the start of Monday’s meeting, Obama announced that major corporations including Gap Inc. and McDonald’s Corp. are pairing up with community colleges under a new White House-backed plan to boost job skills in the United States.

Tea-party activists in their own words

Obama said that he wants to make it easier to join students who are looking for jobs with businesses that are looking to hire workers.

“The goal is to ensure there are strong partnerships between growing industries and community college or training programs in every state in the country,” said Obama in a statement on Monday.

Under the plan, McDonald’s will offer professional literacy programs; utility giant PG&E will expand its energy job-training program and give assistance to community colleges on curriculum design and technical matters; Gap Inc. will pair up with colleges in seven cities and offer in-store training to students; and United Technologies will replicate apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing.

Obama has often stressed education and training as the midterm elections near, and did so again on Monday. He said Republicans want to trim education by 20% in next year’s budget but said he won’t cut that budget even though the U.S. must “get serious” about the deficit.

“This country will be stronger” if all children get a good education, Obama told board members.