Manpower forecasts, available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau, and the National Center for Education Statistics, indicate that from 1970 to 1990 there will be significant major shifts in the number of Americans in the prime-age group of 25-44 years of age. This…

A critical analysis of terminal vocational education reveals that its benefits may be modest, at best. Supporters argue that vocational education will reduce unemployment by preparing more students for upwardly-mobile "middle-level" jobs. They further contend that vocational education will reduce the number of four-year college graduates and bring…

In an industrial society, jobs and men can be conceived of as separate entities that are brought together through a matching process. In this paper the "goodness-of-fit" between the individual and the job is taken as problematic and is used as an explanatory concept for both the reactions of individuals to their jobs (job satisfaction, stress,…

In an examination of employment patterns and the role of higher education, it is suggested that black Americans are in the curious position of making great strides forward in college labor market training while falling behind their white counterparts in the process. The situation should be addressed by both the government and higher education…

This paper is for policymakers, advocates, and analysts who understand that the issues surrounding the introduction of more market-based mechanisms into education are complex and who accept the view that evidence is useful in sorting out the issues. It uses the market framework of demand, supply, and market pricing to organize the extensive but…

This paper, written in 1991, examines some of the problems related to technological and cultural change common to American, British, and continental universities citing, for example, global competition; adaptability of the national workforce; changing concepts about the role of higher education; changing relationships among business, governments,…

Issues in postdoctoral dental education and distinctions between the general practice residency and the advanced education program in general dentistry include: the need for practitioners and further specialization in the work force, society's health care needs, and changes in the health care industry, dental education, dental departments, and…

Canada has traditionally supported a high level of unemployment benefits and retraining programs for its displaced workers. From the 1960s onward, legislation and attitudes in the business community have been geared toward retraining of workers for high-tech workplaces and the replacement of low-skill jobs with high-skill jobs. With increased…

Trends in human resource management and the preparation/employment of psychologists are considered, along with the types of available data on training and employment. Because of Russia's Sputnik, the 1950s in the United States were characterized by an infusion of federal funds to college science and human service programs. During the 1970s, the…

Rates of return to state investments for two of Maine's post-secondary vocational technical institutes are presented. Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute showed a rate of return to the state economy of 12 percent; Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute, 2 percent. The usefulness of rate of return analysis as a planning tool or as…

Equal educational opportunity is the springboard for equal opportunity and is the hope of blacks, other minorities, and whites for fair participation in the economic marketplace. Standardized tests frequently contain a cultural bias that mitigates against black students, thus presenting a barrier to higher education. In many places, competency…

Pointing out that new and emerging jobs may appear at the local, regional, state, or national level, this paper offers definitions and then goes on to group the changes influencing appearance or emergence of new jobs. The five groups of change factors are (1) technological change, (2) demographic change, (3) legislation, (4) life style changes,…

Two social changes are cited as particularly important to the projection of college enrollment trends. One is the rising educational attainment of the parents of future potential college attenders; the other is the fact that declines in fertility accompany declines in average family size. Overall, the illustration in this paper suggests that the…

In preparation for a conference held in Paris, France, in November 1994, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development launched a 5-year program that involved 20 countries studying the changing role of vocational and technical education and training (VOTEC). A synthesis of national studies on young people's pathways and participation…

In preparation for a conference held in Paris, France, in November 1994, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) launched a 5-year program that involved 20 countries studying the changing role of vocational and technical education and training (VOTEC). This background document presents an overview of policy issues and…