# The Skills Gap We're Talking About Isn't the One We're Solving with Krista DiGiacomo

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/transform-your-workplace-388839/the-skills-gap-we-re-talking-about-isn-t-the-one-we-re-solving-with-krista-digiacomo
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/transform-your-workplace-388839/the-skills-gap-we-re-talking-about-isn-t-the-one-we-re-solving-with-krista-digiacomo.md
Podcast: [Transform Your Workplace](https://stenobird.com/podcast/transform-your-workplace-388839)
Published: 2026-05-07T19:52:00+00:00
Episode link: https://xeniumhr.libsyn.com/the-skills-gap-were-talking-about-isnt-the-one-were-solving-with-krista-digiacomo
Audio file: https://pdcn.co/e/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/xeniumhr/TYW-592_-_The_Skills_Gap_Were_Talking_About_Isnt_the_One_Were_Solving_with_Krista_DiGiacomo.mp3?dest-id=100930
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Duration seconds: 1707

## Resource

The labor market is unlike anything staffing veteran Krista DiGiacomo has seen in 24 years, and she's not mincing words about why. In this episode, Krista, franchise owner of Express Employment Professionals in Vancouver, Washington, joins host Brandon Laws to unpack the growing skills gap reshaping hiring today. From soft skills like punctuality and reliability, to hard skills like reading blueprints and running a budget, employers are struggling and the education system is a big part of the story. Krista makes a compelling case for rethinking the four-year degree mandate, investing in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, and why the skilled trades may be the most future-proof career path in an age of AI. If you're an employer, job seeker, parent, or anyone invested in the future of work, this is an episode you can't afford to miss. ⏱️ KEY TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction: Krista DiGiacomo joins the show as the first-ever Express Employment Professionals guest in 580+ episodes 00:51 – The State of the Labor Market: What Krista is seeing on the front lines after 24 years in staffing and why she's never seen anything quite like this 01:19 – The Skills Gap Unpacked: Soft skills (attendance, reliability, punctuality) and hard skills (blueprints, budgets, trade knowledge) are both in short supply 02:53 – Who Uses a Staffing Agency? Krista breaks down the wide range of candidates Express serves, from recent grads to career changers to those reentering the workforce 04:16 – Higher Education's Identity Crisis: Why universities optimized for enrollment over practical application and why a bachelor's degree doesn't mean what it used to 07:50 – Changing the Narrative at Home and in Schools: Why the four-year-degree-or-bust mindset is hurting society and what p…

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