The U.S. is not investing as much money and time in technical skills development as other nations, according to a recent book Closing America's Job Gap (W Business Books, January 2011). Shortages of skilled workers -- electricians, carpenters, plumbers and welders -- are acute in many of the world's biggest economies, including the United States and Canada, where employers ranked skilled trades as their No. 1 or No. 2 hiring challenge, according to the Manpower (MAN) 2010 Talent Shortage Survey.