As skill gap grows, educating the future workforce is Kansas’ most important investment

Education at all levels, from early childhood through college, will strengthen the Kansas economy, writes Torree Pederson. (Photo by Getty Images)

As a mom with kids in Kansas schools, I see the future of our state every day. I see it every time we talk about college applications, first jobs, and what kind of future my kids want to build here in Kansas.

But as the president and CEO of an organization that works with educators, employers and policymakers across Kansas and Missouri, I also see the widening gap between the skills our students are learning and the demands of today’s workforce. The gap threatens the strength of our communities, the future of our economy, and most importantly, our kids.

Across the state of Kansas, I continue to hear the same message. In Hutchinson, business owners say they can’t fill positions. In Wichita, hospitals are short on nurses and technicians. In Salina, manufacturers can’t find enough trained workers to keep up with demand. These are not isolated challenges. They are symptoms of a talent pipeline that isn’t keeping pace with the needs of Kansas employers.

My organization has spent the past year traveling across the state on a Cradle to Career Listening Tour. We met with parents, teachers, students, and business leaders in every corner of Kansas to ask what’s working and what isn’t. Their message was clear: We have to do more to educate the future workforce that our state will need.

The path from classroom to career begins long before graduation. Early childhood education gives our kids the foundation to learn.

It continues with strong K–12 schools that retain great teachers in the classroom.

It extends through technical training and higher education that prepares students for real, high-skilled jobs.

When any part of that system falters, families and communities experience the impact. Parents who can’t find affordable child care are forced to step out of the workforce. Schools that lose experienced teachers struggle to maintain stability and quality. And when students can’t see how their education connects to real careers, too many leave Kansas to find opportunity somewhere else.

However, Kansans also know what works. Parents and educators told us about career and technical education programs that connect students directly to employers. Businesses shared how apprenticeships help students earn while they learn. Communities talked about partnerships that make college more affordable and accessible. These are Kansas solutions, grounded in practicality and collaboration.

If we want to stay competitive as a state, we must treat education as the backbone of our economy. Just as we invest in roads and broadband, we must invest in the systems that build human potential. Our teachers, our schools, and our training programs are not expenses, they are economic infrastructure.

As a mom and business leader who is passionate about helping Kansas kids succeed, I feel the urgency of this moment. The future workforce is sitting in our classrooms today. Whether those students stay in Kansas, build their careers here, and raise their families here depends on the choices we make now.

What gives me hope is the Kansas spirit I’ve seen in every community visited on the listening tour. People are willing to come together, to listen, and to find common ground. Parents, educators, and employers all want the same thing: a future where every child has the chance to succeed and every business has the talent it needs to grow.

As we look ahead to the 2026 legislative session, we have an opportunity to turn those conversations into action. Investing in education is not a partisan issue, it is a Kansas priority.

If we want a strong workforce tomorrow, we have to educate students today. Our future depends on it.

Torree Pederson is president and CEO of Aligned, a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of business leaders committed to improving education and workforce systems across Kansas and Missouri. Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.