I tend to agree with the article, however would like to expand on a few points.

Education: Our college/university education is very expensive and appears to becoming dominated by private universities that sell an education that is marketed without concern to the realities of job openings. Our primary and secondary schools are hampered with discipline problems, teachers are prevented from effectively controlling students and are at risk from disruptive students. I would think that a concerted public awareness campaign stressing that parents need to be involved and supportive of teachers instead of disruptive children, (kids learn how to play the victim card early on).



In the USA there are, according to official estimates, between 1 and 2 million high paying skilled technical jobs that are not being filled, and those that are filled are filled with applicants from out side of the US. These jobs, because they are so hard to find qualified applicants command a much higher wage than they should. It was noted in a report on NPR several years ago that 1 out of every 11 immigrants from India has become a millionaire in the USA. This is because they have the education in the right field to meet the demand of high-paying jobs.



I have read that in western states jobs for line-men building and maintaining the high energy transmission lines are not being filled; of course this is hard work.



The author's point that colleges are not pinpointing areas of need is well placed. This needs to be addressed, the jobs are there, the qualified applicants are not. Of course we are wanting McDonalds and the like to supply "living wages" but this is ridiculous. This is not a skilled position, it is a resume building position, a foot in the employment door, not the end all.