Mark Perna joined Dennis, and they discussed the state of workforce in 2025.

• What prompted you to write Answering Why?
• How would you compare the state of our workforce in 2018 versus today?
• We are at the start of 2025. Where do we stand today with job openings and the skills gap?
• How can economic development professionals and organizations be more proactive in dealing with workforce issues?
• Do you see more collaboration between education, economic development and others?
• Who is leading workforce development in most communities?
• If you woke up in a community tomorrow as an economic development professional, what would you do regarding workforce development?
• What resources do you have available to help economic development professionals better understand the workforce issues we are facing.