A growing number of experts agree that the skills gap is a critical issue threatening the recovering American economy—a fact many feel was confirmed by the most recent jobs report. "Wages are up, but it's in different areas," Tom Gimbel, president and CEO of Lasalle Network, told CNBC's Closing Bell. In December, 252,000 jobs were created, while unemployment fell to 5.6 percent. Wages, however, fell by five cents an hour. Gimbel says the numbers show a widening gap between wages in high-skill versus low-skill positions. Job growth has occurred in areas where wage growth has been weaker, Michael Gapen, chief economist for Barclays U.S., told CNBC. According to Gimbel, the growing labor skills gap is a “real, real issue” for the U.S. economy and the recovery.