Discouraged by the unrepresentative data and misleading media coverage, Antech Systems, SkillTV.net and concerned maintenance technicians collaborated to create The Occupy a Job application.
Joel Leonard of SkillTV.net notes that there are 3.5 million unfilled jobs (more than 40 percent are in skilled trades) compared to more than 14 million people out of work, yet students are still being told that if you want to be a success, you need to go to college and incur a huge debt. Amy Earle, vice president, Antech Systems, adds that “so much of the news these days discusses high unemployment rates and the lack of jobs.” The Occupy a Job app and the United Skills of America movement sends a different message: the path to a successful career may not be through traditional college and well paying jobs do exist.
Robeson Community College of North Carolina has embraced the United Skills of America Movement. President Charles Chrestman “feels it will reach masses of people, RCC is focusing upon the skills necessary to advance manufacturing and support local businesses.”
