In this video “JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon reveals the skills students need to get jobs,” Jamie Dimon discusses the specific gap between the available labor force and the specialized skills companies actually require.

The primary points from his talk include:

• High-Demand Skills: Dimon highlights that while there is labor available, there is a shortage of specific expertise. He identifies critical needs in areas such as cybersecurity, coding, programming, financial management, and program management [00:14].

• Specialized Training: He mentions that some specialized needs are met through unions, which can do a great job of training workers [00:24].

• Direct Engagement with Schools: He emphasizes the importance of businesses going directly into schools to influence outcomes. He notes that some educational institutions are willing to change their curriculum if companies help train teachers, ensuring students are job-ready upon graduation [00:39].

The mission of the Norman A. Mordue (NAM) Scholarship Foundation aligns closely with Jamie Dimon’s philosophy on “Career Readiness” and the “Skills Gap.” Both emphasize that education should not just be about a degree, but about a direct pipeline to the workforce and community economic growth.

The parallels between the NAM Foundation’s mission and Dimon’s interview can be broken down into three key areas:

1. Closing the “Skills Gap”

In his interview, Jamie Dimon notes that the economy isn’t short on labor, but on specific skills (coding, cybersecurity, financial management, etc.).

• The NAM Alignment: The foundation specifically targets high-demand fields such as manufacturing, technology, law enforcement, environmental management, public service, construction trades, healthcare, and finance. By funding education in these sectors, the foundation directly addresses Dimon’s concern that the workforce needs technical proficiency to meet current market demands.

   

2. The “Skilled Workforce Pipeline”

Dimon suggests that businesses should work with schools to change the curriculum to “help those kids get jobs when they get out.”

• The NAM Alignment: The foundation’s mission statement explicitly mentions creating a “skilled workforce pipeline” to make the Elmira area more competitive and attract new businesses. Like Dimon, the foundation views education as a strategic economic tool rather than just an academic pursuit.

   

3. Direct Partnership with Schools

Dimon argues that success comes from “going directly into the schools” and partnering with administrations that are willing to adapt.

• The NAM Alignment: The Foundation’s “Guiding Strategy” is built on a direct partnership with the Elmira Superintendent of Schools and high school administration. This “on-the-ground” approach mirrors Dimon’s belief that local Employers, Academia, and Government should be actively engaged, each supporting the others to ensure studentsensure students are “qualified, disciplined, and prepared to succeed.”