While Americans struggle to finds jobs, some of the country's biggest companies insist they're struggling just as hard to find workers with the skills they need. "We are interviewing 11 people to find one qualified candidate," AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson told CNNMoney in a recent interview. "It's stunning to me."

AT&T, which draws 90% of its revenue from the United States, says it's at a disadvantage compared to other global technology giants. It sees a growing talent gap between this nation and foreign countries, particularly in highly technical fields, but it doesn't have the option of outsourcing heavily.

AT&T's solution: A $350 million commitment to a program called "Aspire," which provides grants to schools, nonprofit organizations, and researchers for ventures aimed at increasing the country's high-school graduation rate.

Read more.