Business leaders discuss skills gap - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

LA CROSSE, WI (WXOW)—According to Competitive Wisconsin Inc., there are 35,000- 40,000 jobs available around the state; but the businesses offering those jobs can't find qualified workers.

CWI, a non-partisan group working to find a way to help improve the economy, met with local business leaders at Western Technical College, on Tuesday, to talk about the skills gap.

"It's not so much that there's a gap between education and jobs that are available," Jim Wood, CWI Strategic Counsel said. "It is that we need a more integrated approach to this so we can say these are where the jobs are going to be so schools can align, get ready for the demand."

La Crosse is one of 12 stops around the state.

They're asking local leaders to frame pressing issues and needs.

They'll consider what they've learned and provide a report based on what they've learned.

"So that young people coming into the job market have a much better sense of where their options are and what kind of jobs would make them happiest and what would be required to get into those jobs," Wood said.

The report should be completed by Labor Day, then, CWI will hold three summits around the state to discuss their findings and ways to move forward.