“Despite economic stagnation and rising unemployment, 30% of employers surveyed worldwide say they still face a skilled workforce shortage” ( Katz 2008). Since the country entered a recession, many companies have had to downsize by laying off significant numbers of workers, subsequently forcing the laid-off workers to compete for lower-level, lower-paying positions. Some industries are still trying to fill large numbers of positions despite the economic meltdown; Unfortunately, many laid-off workers may be acquiring outdated skills or no skills at all to fill these new positions. For example, a fired investment banker on Wall Street would not demonstrate qualifications to work as an engineer or in the energy industries. “Even with U.S. unemployment at or near record levels in many areas, Manpower research highlights the problems many employers have in finding people with the right mix of job-specific skills, experience and education” ( Business Journal 2009). Therefore, unemployment could continue to rise, in some areas, if frustration pushes employers to hire in other parts of the country instead of using local human capital. Many displaced workers may be required to enroll in lifelong learning programs to upgrade their skills or learn new trades if they wish to successfully return to the workforce or even increase their living wage. Secondary education institutions should use this crisis as an example to prepare students early; however, educational deficiencies can increasingly cause devastating effects. Many will graduate with knowledge-based skills gaps and, as a result, will face the worst problems because they will have little or no exposure to the job market… mid-paper… they attend post-secondary educational institutions. Even when they enter post-secondary institutions, their unawareness of the job market may lead them to choose a program that will not produce growth in the area. Since not all high school graduates will attend college, states will need to create a board that provides students with at least knowledge-based curricula and survival skills while addressing the technical and global nature of the economy. Job preparation and college programs should begin as early as freshman year, but the problem is that many schools do not have enough resources to provide students with these incentives. Furthermore, some groups show more limitations than others, so they will continue to lag behind in the global market until decision makers recognize that leveling the playing field will, in fact, stimulate the economy..