When WorkingNation founder and CEO Art Bilger started the nonprofit media company five years ago the mismatch between skills employers wanted and the skills job seekers had was already a growing issue. Now, due to the impact of the pandemic on the workforce, the issue has become even more urgent. “We, as a society in all the different levels really have to focus much, much more carefully on where the jobs will be and the solutions,” says Bilger.

“Starting point is what are the jobs today, tomorrow and in the future? Then we figure out what the solutions are. We, at WorkingNation, have been focused on the solutions being local. What companies are doing. What academic entities are doing. What local governments are doing. What not for profits are doing.”

While attending this year’s ASU+GSV Summit, Bilger says he was greatly encouraged by all the innovative thinkers he met who are creating solutions for a range of populations.

“They were talking about people coming out of college and different types of programs that may factor in employability on top of the college education,” says Bilger. “But then also one guy focused on the incarcerated. Those people who are hopefully coming out of prison in the not-too-distant future and programs that are helping them prepare for re-entering society from an employment standpoint. I just think this is very encouraging.”

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WorkingNation—a collaborating partner of the ASU+GSV Summit—sat down with Bilger in San Diego as part of our #WorkingNationOverheard social media series.

Hear from more innovators in education and tech in the public, private, and nonprofit spheres attending the ASU+GSV Summit 2021 here.

Follow the conversation on social media: #asugsvsummit #workingnationoverheard