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.
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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
This holiday season is not so merry and bright for 20 million Americans who are currently claiming unemployment insurance benefits. The coming of the new year is especially grim for the 12 million individuals who are estimated to be left without any pandemic compensation come December 26, 2020. Now, more than ever, a relief package needs to be passed.
This week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released the Senate GOP’s Targeted Relief Package. After months of stalemate, the Republican offer comes just one week before government funding runs out and a month before emergency pandemic unemployment programs end. Secretary Mnuchin has said that President Trump will sign this proposal into law, should it pass both Chambers of Congress.
“This legislation strikes a sensible balance of maintaining vital income support during the pandemic while avoiding disincentives for returning to work. The U.S. Chamber commends Senators Collins, McSally, and Romney for their efforts on this pressing issue and urges Senate leaders to give this reasonable proposal bipartisan support.”
This Hill letter was sent to the Members of the United States Congress and to the President of the United States, on the unemployment insurance benefit.
This Hill letter was sent to the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, on Chamber priorities for childcare legislation.
This Hill letter was sent to the House Committee on Appropriations, on Fiscal Year 2021 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations.
This Hill letter was sent to the United States Senate, supporting S. 604, the “Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2019.”
This Hill letter was sent to the U.S. House of Representatives, supporting H.R. 5674, the “Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2019.”
This Key Vote Alert! letter was sent to the U.S. House of Representatives, opposing H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act."
This Coalition letter was sent to the U.S. House of Representatives opposing H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act."