Most Americans understand that globalization is a game-changer. But many are not sure that they are going to like the new game. For better or worse, the modern economy is a global economy, which the United States can influence given the sheer size of its market. But, America is no longer the sole economic superpower. America needs a national skills strategy to compete globally and to assure a rising standard of living for its citizens. This requires that the focus be put on:
Enabling the supply of middle-skilled jobs to match future demand with supply of skilled workers
Integrating the more complex skill sets required in service economy jobs into education, training and research programs
Extending America’s innovation leadership with a focus on integrative, interdisciplinary, computational and entrepreneurial skills, with a new emphasis on supporting innovation in service industries
Anticipating future skills trajectories at the cutting edge of sustainability
To create a skilled workforce, strengthen existing industries, launch new firms and attract high-value investment, the United States must act and invest wisely. America needs to prioritize around the kinds of investment that generate high-wage jobs. Success in the 21st century means that looking forward – positively and proactively – at where the country is going.