America Works Initiative
Helping your company and our country solve our workforce challenges.
America is facing a worker shortage crisis: There are too many open jobs without people to fill them. The result: Too many businesses can’t grow, compete, and thrive. And too many workers can't realize their American dreams.
Through the America Works Initiative, we’re helping employers across the country develop and discover talent to fill open jobs and grow our economy.
Explore related topics
Understanding America's Labor Shortage
Understanding the problem
Discover the latest data on job openings, unemployment, labor force participation, quit rates, and more, for a quick understanding of the current state of the workforce—paired with in-depth analysis of the trends.
Become a member
U.S. Chamber members range from the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of America to leading industry associations and large corporations.
Learn more about how your business can become a member.
Understanding the Problem
Report
America’s woefully inadequate immigration system is directly contributing to the worker shortage crisis and hindering American business operations.
Join the #AmericaWorks Conversation
Make your voice heard. Ask Congress to take action to close the skills gap, grow our country’s workforce, and keep America’s economy strong.
Resources and Guides
U.S. Chamber Foundation Programs to Help Your Company
- Develop your talent pipelineThe U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) helps employers partner with educators and economic development leaders to make sure future workers are learning the right skills to meet employer needs.Learn More
- Hire from the military communityThe U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) program connects companies with military community talent through world-class hiring events and fellowship programs.Learn More
- Use data to find the perfect matchJoin the more than 500 organizations using the latest tech and data to better match people with the right jobs through the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Jobs and Employment Data Exchange (JEDx) and T3 Innovation Network.Learn More
- Invest differently in upskilling and trainingTake a new approach to paying for education and skills training to create more opportunity, more inclusion, and more jobs with the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Talent Finance initiative.Learn More
Case Studies
- Developing Essential Nursing Talent in PhoenixUsing the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s TPM strategy, the Hospital Workforce Collaborative in Arizona teamed up with local community colleges to train needed specialty nurses.Learn More
- Workforce Readiness and Reentry Program at BlackburnA unique program is creating pathways to employment for formerly incarcerated individuals in the equine industry in Kentucky using the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s TPM strategy.Learn More
- An Industry-Leading Training Model in AutomotiveUsing the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s TPM strategy, a Toyota training program is meeting industry demand for automotive technicians.Learn More
America Works Policy Priorities
Feature story
Business Roundtable, SHRM, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are joining forces to help American businesses find and hire talented workers based on their skills, not just their degrees, to boost the economy and create more job opportunities.
We are calling on elected officials at the federal and state level to take immediate action to help address this national economic crisis.
Get in Touch
The U.S. Chamber is here to help. Get in touch today to learn more about our workforce programs.
Latest Content
2019 was a productive year for the American Workforce Advisory Board, and 2020 should be too. Check out the highlights from this year.
The labor market is tight, which means there are fewer workers to fill open positions and, as a result, wages are rising.
Monthly Workforce Monitor: Worker Availability Report — an analysis of the state of the U.S. job market and worker availability.
There are now more available jobs in the United States than there are individuals looking for work, evidence of a historically tight labor market for employers and a mounting workforce challenge that threatens the U.S. economy’s continued growth.
This Hill letter was sent to the House Committee on Education and Labor, on H.R. 4674, the “College Affordability Act.”
Denis McDonough and Brianna Keiler discuss the American workforce at the U.S. Chamber Foundation's Talent Forward event.
Unions like the SEIU have decided to pursue a concept from Europe referred to as sector-level (or sectoral) bargaining.
This Key Vote Alert! letter was sent to the U.S. House of Representatives supporting H.R. 6, the "American Dream and Promise Act of 2019."
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports the bipartisan “First Step Act of 2018” (S.3649) and urges the Senate to consider the bill prior to the end of this Congress. America’s criminal justice system should always strive to prepare incarcerated individuals for a successful return to society. Employment and training opportunities combined with recidivism reduction programs are a key element in helping the incarcerated find gainful employment upon their release.
While the commercial construction economy is good overall, two-thirds of contractors in the South have trouble finding workers.
