The economic shifts of the past decade represent a new era in the U.S. workplace. Many of the millions of dislocated managers and professionals will not be reemployed in similar jobs because those jobs have disappeared. The economy has changed from the pyramid shape that most people envision, with a large blue-collar base and a smaller…

Recent changes in the workplace have given rise to the following misconceptions or "myths" about the future of career development: loyalty and job security have disappeared; contingent employment reflects the "end of the job"; and the workplace of the future will continue to be youth focused. In reality, concerns over loyalty and job security have…

It is necessary to raise the standards of the education and training response and to demonstrate that European cooperation in education and training can give practical added value to help individuals both to learn and to use their knowledge and experience as part of their personal and professional development wherever they may be in the Economic…

According to the Advisory Board of the National Center on the Educational Quality of the Workforce (EQW), young people in the United States are losing out in the job market, too often having to settle for intermittent, part-time jobs, routinized work, low wages, and few if any benefits. This circumstance has been the result of a net loss of 1.65…

The consensus of many organizations in the youth employment field is that the United States needs a bold new approach to youth employment and training. The development of a broad, national youth development strategy is recommended. The strategy should include the following: (1) a multi-year investment in a young person's development; (2) workforce…

Education is constantly criticized for its "failures"--its "failure" to produce literate graduates, its "failure" to prepare students for the jobs of future technology, and its "failure" to reduce unemployment and establish equity for all students. However, these "failures" are not solely those of…

During the last years of this century, the work force will grow more slowly, becoming older, more female, and more disadvantaged. An increasing number of minority groups and immigrants will enter the work force. Despite public demands for reform, education lags behind in preparing youth for employment. The changing work force has many implications…

Although plant closings and layoffs have been happening for a long time, today's recessions, major changes in the structure of the economy, and a tight job market have combined to make plant closings a more serious problem. Workers are faced with unemployment from both traditional labor-displacing changes, such as the increasing use of robotics;…

This report describes and summarizes the discussion at a national leadership meeting conducted by the National Alliance of Business. The meeting focused on the complex and challenging economic, social, and educational issues facing today's youth. Participants included business executives, foundation presidents, mayors, state legislators, county…

Rapidly changing patterns of birthrates over the past several decades have created a Canadian and North American population whose age structure shows continuing and potentially oscillating changes in its age group distribution. The increased participation of women in the workforce and their promotional aspirations further complicate what were…

This document records the oral and written testimony given at a hearing on preparation of the work force for the year 2000 and beyond. Testimony was given by Senator Barbara Mikulski; John Lynch, whose company prepared the report, "Workforce 2000"; Joan Patterson and Nelson Brooks, coexecutive directors of the United Auto…

This study was conducted to assess business and industry's perceptions of the basic skills needed for entry-level successful employment. It also assessed business and industry's perceptions of the competencies that entry-level employees now have. Information was gathered via a basic skills questionnaire that was mailed to the personnel directors…

Four key trends will shape the American labor force in the final years of the 20th century. The American economy should grow at a relatively healthy pace. Despite its international comeback, however, U.S. manufacturing constitutes a much smaller share of the economy in the year 2000 than it does today. The work force will grow slowly, becoming…

This report was written for the Technology Policy Task Force of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives. The report examines the nature and history of technological change, its impact on large and small firms and their workers, and its policy implications. The paper stresses that individuals, schools, firms,…

Major concerns of educators and government officials in Europe regarding the post-compulsory school system are explored. The document is presented in five chapters. Chapter I discusses problems of access to education, the transition of school leavers to employment, and employment problems of school dropouts. Chapter II investigates objectives of…