Business Leaders United

As businesses across the country grapple with generational retirements, persistent skills shortages, and the rapid pace of technological change, one question looms large: are small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) equipped to keep up? Jeffrey Connor-Naylor and Sean Murphy share one promising strategy to help SMBs compete and grow---Skills-based hiring. Take a moment to read the blog today! https://lnkd.in/e4EwnJV5

ICYMI: View the webinar recording here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/evrK9mM4

⏰ Don’t miss the hotel cutoff! Heading to NSC’s 2026 Skills Summit? Make sure your room is reserved before the deadline so you can stay close to the action. Secure your spot and stay steps away from the conversations shaping workforce policy. #NSCSkillsSummit https://lnkd.in/gTntX9aa

Join us for National Skills Coalition and Business Leaders United's final webinar of the year and get timely insights from both the business and worker perspectives that will help you start 2026 informed, energized, and ready to take action on workforce and education policy. - Hear how short-term skills training programs and hiring work in the real world. - Understand the disconnects in the current system from different points of view. - Learn where policymakers and advocates can help bridge the gap. 👉 Save your seat: https://lnkd.in/eUAcKC7K

"What keeps me in this fight, even when it’s tough?" 💭 National Skills Coalition's CEO Brooke DeRenzis reflects on this year, amidst ongoing debates in Congress and the realities working people face. She's asking for your partnership on the road ahead. Full read: https://lnkd.in/eurFS_3z

What do workers really need from skills training? What do employers actually see in today’s hiring landscape? And how can public policy bring these perspectives together? Business Leaders United and National Skills Coalition are hosting a conversation you won’t want to miss. Learn where disconnects exist and what investments can drive real change. Join us to explore how we can build a system where both workers and businesses succeed. https://lnkd.in/eUAcKC7K

What do small and mid-size businesses really think about skills training and credentials? This new BLU report draws on interviews with 75 employers — and reveals a mixed story. Many are embracing skills-based hiring and recognize the value of non-degree credentials. But many also say the system isn’t yet delivering what workers need: training often doesn’t connect to real job skills, and credential quality varies. If we want the workforce of tomorrow to meet employer needs and give workers stable, good jobs — we need smarter policy: better alignment between training programs and employer demand, clearer credential standards, and stronger partnerships between businesses, training providers, and policymakers. Read the full report and join the conversation:

Workers and businesses share a common goal: building a strong workforce and expanding access to good jobs. National Skills Coalition’s new research captures both sides of the story — revealing how short-term skills training and real-world hiring practices succeed, and where gaps still remain. Join Business Leaders United and National Skills Coalition for a powerful conversation featuring a learner and an employer who contributed to the research. Hear firsthand insights on what’s working, what’s not, and how smart public investments can create better opportunities for both workers and businesses! https://lnkd.in/eUAcKC7K Speakers: Amanda Bergson-Shilcock Jeran Culina Jeffrey Connor-Naylor Michael Richardson Trina N. Green Marie Price