When it comes to preparing workers for available and emerging jobs, President Barack Obama continues to spotlight community colleges as the lynchpin.
During his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday, Obama said that he wants to provide two million Americans with the skills they need to land available jobs. He noted that good jobs exist, even in the current economy, but employers cannot find workers with the right skills.
“It’s inexcusable,” Obama said.
The president noted a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) in North Carolina and Siemens. He cited how Siemen's employee Jackie Bray, who was sitting in the First Lady’s box during the congressional address, enrolled at CPCC to prepare for Siemens’ pre-hiring test. In August 2011, after finishing the course and passing the test, Bray was hired as a process operator at the company.
Siemens “paid Jackie’s tuition and then hired her to operate their plant,” Obama said.