Education and Michigan's job pool topics at forum

This is so interesting.  Art Van Elslander, founder of Art Van Furniture, wants to hire 100 salespeople for his 32 stores around the state but can't find qualified applicants.  Who does he blame?  The educational system, of course.  And you know what?  To some degree I agree with him.  He says the applicants lack math, interpersonal skills, listening ability, "The people coming out of schools today simply lack the skills necessary."  Bob Bobb showed skepticism at these remarks, suggesting there should be plenty of college-ready high school graduates to fill the jobs.  State Superintendent Mike Flanagan said that Michigan's education institutions have been resistant to major changes. The state overall must overcome a mentality spawned by a low skill manufacturing heritage that young adults don't need a college education to do well financially.  Let me respond to Art.  I don't know what  has happened to the teaching of basic math skills, (and I am concentrating on the basics here because I don't think you need Algebra to sell furniture).  Many kids today do not have their multiplication facts memorized, and don't understand the concept of division at all.  They also can not problem solve, they can't get around a problem, if the answer isn't right there in front of them, they don't have any clue as to how to proceed.  As to interpersonal skills, well I think most teachers would love to teach interpersonal skills but time is limited due to a curriculum that is so jammed packed with standards and benchmarks, that just trying to cover content is a challenge.  Another reason kids are lacking in interpersonal skills is because they have a lot of interaction with non-persons!  Listening abilities, oh my, if only kids would listen.  Listening is a skill learned and improved upon through dialogue.  I don't think there are enough discussions going on in our classrooms today, and outside of the classroom kids communicate through texting and facebook,  no listening necessary.  Now, on to Bob Bobb.  I wonder if Bob is suggesting that the plenty of college-ready high school graduates work for Art during the summer after graduation and then perhaps part-time while attending college.  Perhaps these ready for college kids are going to get degrees in business and then come back and find employment as managers and higher level executives in the Art Van company.  These are not the kids that Art is able to find apparently, maybe because these kids aren't interested in selling furniture.  Finally, Mike Flanagan, who doesn't want the state of Michigan to lower itself to manufacturing, and insists that all young people need a college degree to be financially successful.  I think the furniture business falls into the manufacturing domain.  I think a good salesperson will be financially successful if he has good basic math skills, good interpersonal skills, and good listening skills.  Does one need to go to college for this?  What am I missing here?
Rosemary