Tom Joseph

[Commentary] The United States added 209,000 jobs in July, the Labor Department unveiled. But don’t pop the champagne cork just yet. Job openings are staying open because there are not enough qualified applicants to fill them.

Beyond STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, art and math, we must find common-denominator skills that all employees should have, regardless of the industry. This is why an increasing number of industry leaders are paying attention to a highly promising and scalable approach called Deeper Learning.

Deeper Learning focuses on a range of knowledge and skills that include mastery of core academic content, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, effective communication, self-directed learning, and acquisition of an “academic mindset”

[Joseph is Senior Director of Worldwide Education, Autodesk]