This paper uses direct measures of literacy skill levels provided by the International Adult Literacy Survey to estimate the return to literacy skills. Using a very simple human capital earnings equation and standard ordinary least squares regression, it tested estimates of the return to literacy skills for their robustness to alternative scalings…

Human capital--the productive capacity that is embedded in people--is one of the most important contributors to the growth in nations' output and standard of living. Globalisation and technological change have increased the importance of human capital in recent years, to the point that there are now only two options to sustain high profits and…

A national survey of students who undertook vocational education and training (VET) in the year 2000 at a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institute in Australia was conducted through a mailing of questionnaires to a randomly selected sample of graduates and module completers. Response rate was 52 percent and 41 percent, respectively. In…

This paper presents regulatory change proposals from the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board and Department of Advanced Education and Career Development for public discussion and comment. Section 1 outlines proposals relating to regulations: program and process details; the ratio of journeymen to apprentices; and apprentice wages.…

These two publications consist of a final phase summary of proposed regulations consistent with Alberta's new Apprenticeship and Industry Training Amendment Act, 2000, and a supplement with detailed information on proposed regulations and orders. The summary's Section 1 contains a history of the consultation process. Section 2 focuses on…

A recent compilation of educational indicators from 20 industrialized countries in North America, the Pacific, Europe, and Scandinavia shows rates and trends in college enrollment and graduation, education-related earning power for men and women, and public spending on education. Educational attainment rates are charted for the 20 nations. (MSE)

This overview paper highlights implications of keynote papers and discussion at the first National Issues Forum held by the Research Center for Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Australia. It discusses evidence that the school-to-work (STW) transition is a problem for an increasing number of young people and why. It outlines the…