President Obama says that training workers for jobs in the manufacturing sector will be a key component of growing the nation’s economy. In a speech delivered at the Northern Virginia Community College, he announced an expansion of an initiative called Skills for America’s Future that matches businesses with community colleges to help students gain the kinds of skills that employers are actually looking for.

“Through these efforts, we’re going to make it possible for 500,000 community college students to get industry-accepted credentials for manufacturing jobs that companies across America are looking for,” the president said. “Because the irony is even though a lot of folks are looking for work, there are a lot of companies that are actually also looking for skilled workers. There’s a mismatch that we can close and this partnership is a great way to do it.”

Before he addressed the students, Obama toured the school’s automotive training program that includes a General Motors automotive services classroom and a Ford hybrid vehicles lab.

(Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)