If 88 of Americans believe that education and training resources should be available to the jobless and more than two thirds of employers have identified workforce and skills shortages as top priorities why aren t we as a society able to provide that training in such a way that it leads to long term economic security This book looks at the politics of local and regional workforce development the ways politicians and others concerned with the workforce systems have helped or hindered that process Contributors examine the current systems that are in place in these cities and the potential for systemic reform through case studies of Denver Milwaukee Philadelphia St Louis and Seattle Published in association with the Annie E Casey Foundation