The National Federation of Independent Business found that as of first-quarter 2017, 45 percent of small businesses reported that they were unable to find qualified applicants to fill job openings. But is there a bonafide skills gap in the U.S., or it is an imaginary manifestation of unrealistic expectations?  If perception is reality, then either way, we need to determine the cause and act on a cure. These two articles provide insights into how those of us in talent development industry can make an impact.

The Most Serious Skill Gap Of All - by Liz Ryan, contributor to LinkedIn and Forbes.com

What Will It Take to Close the Skills Gap? Take an Educated Guess - by Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder