JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former U.S. Congressman Dr. Jason Altmire says America’s workforce problem isn’t a lack of opportunity—it’s a mismatch between what schools are producing and what employers need.
Altmire, now president and CEO of Career Education Colleges and Universities and co-author of the new book Trade Up, describes a paradox in the labor market: “record numbers of college graduates that can’t find jobs,” happening at the same time as “a record numbers of employers that can find skilled workers to fill high demand roles.”
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He argues the stakes go beyond paychecks. “We have an enormous workforce shortage,” Altmire said. “It harms our American competitiveness. It is literally a national security issue that we can’t find the workers to do the building that is necessary in the future.”
That “building,” he said, includes everything from AI data centers and chip manufacturing to long-overdue work on aging infrastructure. But Altmire says cultural attitudes helped shrink the pipeline, especially the idea that a four-year degree is the only path to success.
“If you took the other path and moved into the trades, it was because you couldn’t hack it,” he said. “You weren’t good enough to go to a four-year college.”
Altmire also points to demographics: an aging workforce and fewer young people entering the labor pool. And while AI is poised to disrupt jobs across the economy, he says the pattern may flip compared to past technological shifts.
“The interesting thing about AI is that affects white collar workers for the most part now,” Altmire said, noting tasks tied to “research” and “writing” are among those likely to be automated first.
For students considering career schools, he says outcomes should drive decisions. “It is publicly available data to know the outcomes of your school,” he said. “And that includes job placement rates… graduation rates, and how much money you’re making on the other side.”
Locally, Altmire pointed to Northeast Florida programs ranging from Florida State College at Jacksonville to specialized training in welding and nursing. Those are careers, he says, can offer strong pay and stability.