NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Problem-solving. Teamwork. Basic mathematics. Effective verbal communication. These are the skills Tennessee business leaders say are most needed for entry-level jobs in today’s economy. They’re also the skills most commonly identified as lacking in today’s high school graduates. Summit: 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm (CST) Nashville Public Library Auditorium

These are the findings in a new 80-page report by the Tennessee Diploma Project titled, “Taking Inventory: Job Skills in the Tennessee Workforce.” The report, sponsored by the Tennessee Business Roundtable and the Hyde Family Foundations, is the product of statewide surveys of top business leaders, and six regional roundtable meetings between Governor Phil Bredesen and executives from around the state.

“It’s clear a significant gap exists between key workforce skills and employer needs in Tennessee,” said William (Tinker) Kelly, president of the Tennessee Business Roundtable, a nonprofit statewide organization of CEOs and business leaders. “We hope this new report can serve as a road map to help close those gaps, and make sure that our high school graduates are better prepared for the demands of college and work.”

The Tennessee Diploma Project, a partner in the fast-growing American Diploma Project movement to raise public education standards, conducted a comprehensive review of workforce needs beginning in late June and ending in late August. Findings and recommendations are compiled in the new “Taking Inventory” report, which is being used by officials with the state Board of Education and Department of Education as they re-write education standards in the Volunteer State.

“The Diploma Project’s outreach to employers has been an important part of our effort to raise the bar for public education in Tennessee,” said Governor Bredesen. “I appreciate the statewide business community’s input, and I look forward to working with educators, parents and students as we digest these findings and examine solutions.”