Gov. Ned Lamont is tapping a high-profile figure to help companies find qualified workers.

Former U.S Education Secretary Miguel Cardona will lead a new Connecticut Career Pathways Commission, which will match training in classrooms with employers’ needs.

Connecticut has 68,000 unfilled jobs, according to a new report from the Connecticut Business and Industry Association. But many go unfilled because students coming out of school don’t have the right skills.

“There’s still a gap between what the industry and market needs, versus what we’re actually providing in terms of training and resources,” said CBIA Foundation director Dustin Nord. “Are we providing the best opportunities for these students to take that learning and turning it into a job?”

To bridge the gap, Lamont signed an executive order on Thursday creating the new Pathways commission. The goal is crafting a five-year plan to get schools in line with what employers need, including professional certifications and training in artificial intelligence.

“I want a very smooth transition from school to work,” Lamont told reporters. “And that includes internships. That includes dual enrollment. Many people peel off after high school, maybe get a certificate, get back to work.”

CBIA’s Connecticut Workforce and Education Strategy Blueprint projects that 55% of new jobs will be accessible to workers without a college degree, including positions in hospitality, health care, supply chain logistics and advanced manufacturing.

“A lot of these jobs are going to be high-paying jobs, middle class-type opportunities for them to move up, to advance,” Nord said.

According to the report, one of Connecticut’s biggest challenges is getting local school districts on the same page in terms of job training programs.

“Fragmentation across more than 200 school districts creates barriers for students and makes it difficult for employers – particularly small and mid-sized businesses – to engage at scale,” the CBIA report stated.

A big name is heading up the effort – Dr. Miguel Cardona, who served as President Joe Biden’s Education Secretary. Before that, Cardona led Connecticut schools through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is good for students. This is good for our state economy,” Cardona said. “Everybody in this room, everybody across Connecticut knows we have to evolve to ensure our students are prepared, with options when they graduate.”

Cardona has to hit the ground running. Lamont wants recommendations by the end of this year.