America is daily bombarded with reminders about how rough current economic times are, particularly in workforce development. Headlines scream, "Highest unemployment rate in 26 years" and "Jobs not likely to recover to pre-recession levels until 2012." In such an environment, it is easy to lose sight of serious underlying conditions affecting the U.S. labor market. Legislation alone is not enough to make U.S. workers stay competitive. In thinking about where community colleges fit in this effort, the author is reminded of another influential report, "America's Perfect Storm: Three Forces Changing Our Nation's Future," published in 2007 by Educational Testing Service. It outlined three polarizing forces negatively impacting the U.S. labor pool. In this article, the author examines these negative forces affecting the U.S. workforce and suggests practical solutions; specifically: (1) we need to better sequence adult basic education and postsecondary education; and (2) workforce development programs must acknowledge that many low-wage workers cannot afford to stop working, even for a short time, to obtain higher skills and certifications in an effort to advance their careers.