There are more than 12 million people actively looking for work at a time when more than 3 million jobs are going unfilled across the country.

Though that's still only one job for every three job seekers, the real problem is there's a disconnect between skill sets and job openings.

Many of the job openings that are going unfilled require you to go back to school to get more education. Or they may be in fields you have no interest in whatsoever. Having said that, here's a partial list of the kinds of jobs that are available, along with average starting salary:

• Petroleum engineers start at $85,000
• Senior landmen start at $55,000
• Software engineers start at $60,000
• Electrical engineers start at $60,000
• Mechanical engineers start at $55,000
• Software developers start at $55,000
• Financial analysts start at $50,000
• Communication coordinators start at $35,000
• Marketing coordinators start at $35,000
• Certified public accountants start at $45,000

Continuing education is core to our future as a nation. You've got to morph yourself over time to fit the job market as it changes over time. That's key to our future -- now and tomorrow.