“If you want to make America great again, you have to make work cool again.” So says TV host Mike Rowe in his unique Rowe style when discussing the importance of fixing the “skills gap” in America.

A while back I was reading a column in Products Finishing magazine discussing the same thing. The column is named, “The “Skills Gap” is Your Fault!”. In it the author explains that “the disinterest of tomorrow’s workforce is your problem, too”. He asks business owners to consider these questions:

• Do you have a dead-end company culture?
• Have you ever traded layoffs for profit?
• Do you expect experts from technical schools?
• Has your high school visited you?
• Have you mentored a high school student?
• Do you encourage your own children to consider careers in industry?
• Are you sharing your story with state and local officials in a position to make a difference?

These issues seem as relevant today as yesterday. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to closing the “skills gap”. I respectfully encourage all leadership teams to consider whether they are widening or closing the “gap”.