Describes Alberta's registered apprenticeship plan (RAP), a three-year program in which students spend part of their time in school and part in industry as a registered apprenticeship. Compares RAP to the federal youth apprenticeship proposed in the United States and the European model. (JOW)

Industrialized nations have learned that vocational education is essential to developing a skilled work force. Newly industrialized countries competing in the global economy are finding that automation, multinational companies, and rapid growth are making investment in human resources through training a critical strategy. (SK)

The author depicts society, industry, and professional education in the year 2001. Predictions about the labor force, the economy, and distance education are included. (CH)

Skilled labor is one of the major requirements for economic growth. It is one of the major constraints on industrial expansion and diversification. Meeting the need for skilled labor in the 1980s is a challenge that demands a concerted effort by the national and provincial governments, educators, business, and labor. (Author)

Presents a scheme for the development and implementation of an effective counseling program for manpower trainees and adults in similar programs. Describes a competency-based curriculum for the training of Canada Employment Centre (CEC) counselors developed by the Canada Employment and Immigration Commission. (JOW)

The author observes that we are in a period in which unemployment is coupled with the shortage of skilled manpower. The response to these concerns must involve improved manpower planning between public and private sectors. (JOW)

Discusses the importance of continuous learning to Canada's national prosperity. Recommends an initial focus on the retraining of teachers and managers, national standards, local relevance, differentiation and specialization of universities, and investments in computer-assisted learning. (JOW)

Although technology eliminates jobs, it can save and create jobs as well. Technological change also affects the level of skills required of the labor force. Postsecondary institutions need to ensure that the highly educated, highly skilled, adaptable, and creative labor force demanded by employers is available. (JOW)

Themes of a Canadian private sector task force report on labor force development are improving federal-provincial cooperation, expanding business and labor roles in policy, improving basic skills, promoting lifelong education, expanding counseling services, improving access to training programs, enhancing the quality and dissemination of labor…