Like two ships passing in the night, Milwaukee-area employers and the region's pool of job seekers often struggle to intersect on the same course, according to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Many area employers say they can’t find enough qualified job candidates, while at the same time, some area residents are unable to get a job.

The city is trying to find “any vehicle” it can to bridge the gap between the employer community and the employee community, Barrett said, noting initiatives such as the city’s Compete Milwaukee transitional jobs program and the Mayor’s Manufacturing Partnership.

“We have to find that bridge between the ‘ships,’ and so I’ll work with anyone who will provide the transportation over that bridge so that we can bring the workers and the employers together,” Barrett said.