The shift to service occupations and technological changes contributed to a dramatic decrease in earnings of male high school graduates. Because family income is a strong predictor of educational attainment, educational reforms and policy initiatives for disadvantaged children are extremely important to improve their earnings prospects. (SK)

This paper discusses research findings associated with differences in pay among women and men in higher education and examines the notion that salary differences can be explained as a result of women being more care oriented than men; i.e., women possess a greater level of caring for others, sensitivity to others, and a connectedness to others. It…

This literature review on young adults with mental retardation brings together two previously disparate areas of research, community integration and young adult development. After a discussion of various theories addressing the young adulthood stage of development, the paper summarizes research on young adults with mental retardation in the…

This chapter presents an up-to-date analysis of prevailing state wage laws that affect educational facility construction or renovation and highlights relevant prevailing wage litigation in many states. Currently, 13 states have no prevailing wage laws for public works. The other 37 states and the District of Columbia do have prevailing wage laws…

This paper examines typical explanations offered for the existence of an "earnings gap" between male and female educational administrators, evaluates the relevance of these explanations, and proposes and tests a model process for detecting gender bias in the compensation of school administrators. Common explanations for male/female wage…

The number of persons working part-time for economic reasons increased 60 percent (by 2.112 million workers) between 1979 and 1985. Although total wage and salary employment is up since 1979, nearly one in five new positions is a part-time job filled by a worker unsuccessful in finding full-time employment. Sixty-two percent of those working…

"The Edge" is a Canadian publication for youth. The mandate of the Edge is to support and celebrate all career journeys embraced by youth. This issue contains career profile articles covering three jobs: crane operator, indoor climbing instructor, and product certification tester. Career trends and the state of today's workplace are also…

Pressures that contribute to conventional definitions of skill are uncovered through identification of sources of gender bias in job evaluation systems. Pay equity initiatives are examined to highlight process by which new definitions of skill are constructed or blocked. Demonstrates that comparable worth research can engender understanding of…

Reviews evidence of sex bias in job evaluation judgments and analyzes research methods used to study the issue. Explores the following types of bias: (1) direct; (2) indirect; and (3) sex of rater. Findings indicate evidence of indirect bias, showing that high paying jobs tend to be evaluated higher than those with low pay. (JS)

Contingent workers are those employed in jobs that do not fit the traditional description of a full-time, permanent job with benefits. Contingent work takes the form of part-time, temporary, and contract employment. The number of contingent workers in 1988 has been estimated at between 29.9 and 36.6 million, representing 25-30 percent of the…

Economic data comparing apprenticeship to full-time vocational education and to the youth labor market suggests that, in advanced economies, apprenticeship is a source of more stable employment for young male adults. Its value for females is low in some countries. (SK)

Reviews recent literature on women faculty in higher education, specifically at two-year institutions. Indicates that women are often marginalized because they serve in lower-level and untenured slots, are concentrated in a few disciplines, are paid less than men in similar positions, and are outside the informal and formal socializing networks.…

This study investigated the extent to which completing an associate degree or earning a vocational certificate impacts on the post-college earnings of students. The study examined data from California's Unemployment Insurance Wage Records and educational and demographic data for all California community college students maintained by the state…

In policy debates, the U.S. education and training (ET) system is often blamed for the nation's eroding position in the world economy. Long-term international analysis reveals little evidence of deindustrialization or falling labor productivity. However, other industrial countries have caught up. Most economic research directly concerned with ET…

An examination of the innovative compensation systems called gainsharing, profit-sharing, pay-for-knowledge, two-tier wage plans, and lump sum bonuses has the following public policy implications: (1) more research is needed to evaluate the private and public sectors' experience with those alternative systems; (2) gainsharing and profit-sharing…