The three two-page briefs in this packet focus on the skills needed for America's workforce and student career aspirations. "What Do We Know about America's Workforce?" provides a statistical overview of the workforce and workers today, reporting the following: (1) the number of men and women in the labor force is about equal; (2) by the time…

In a world of constantly changing demands for knowledge and technical skills for the work world, higher education has been slow to change to meet these demands. The numbers of American students receiving bachelor's degrees in engineering, mathematics, and computer science fell significantly between 1987 and 1998, while the demand rose. In…

The supply, demand, and shortages of registered nurses (RNs) were projected and analyzed for 2000-2020. According to the analysis, the national supply of full-time-equivalent registered nurses in 2000 was estimated at 1.89 million versus an estimated demand of 2 million, leaving a shortage of 110,000 (6%). The shortage is expected to grow…

As part of a multiphased evaluation of vocational training provided by the Job Corps in fiscal year 1982, a study examined Job Corps practices for identifying high growth occupations. At least for the present, national projections are the main source of information available to Job Corps planners for use in assessing future vocational training…

This document, one of 12 guides that have been developed to facilitate evaluation by and for local education agency (LEA) personnel in Illinois, covers vocational needs assessment to identify discrepancies between the needs of the community and the school programs available to meet those needs. The guide has been designed to aid the person who has…

During the past 15 years, fluctuations in the prevailing price of oil have had a profound effect on Texas' economic affairs and labor market. Efforts to forecast what the Texas labor market will be like in the future must allow for the diversity among the state's gulf coast, border, plains, eastern, metroplex, and central corridor regions.…

This document, which is designed for educators at community and technical colleges throughout Texas, presents and examines employer-defined workplace competencies for high-technology occupations and outlines instructional strategies and capstone experiences for use in improving technical education and preparing students for high-technology…

Employers are experiencing difficulties filling vacancies for information technology (IT) positions because of rapid growth in the demand for IT workers, high turnover, and the unique characteristics of IT work. In response to the growing demand for IT workers, public and private education and training providers are expanding their offerings and…

This paper outlines a model identification procedure for vocational educators to use in determining new and emerging occupations. Reviewed first are major available works dealing with identifying and planning for new and emerging occupations. Detailed discussions are provided of the various components of the model. The first phase of the model to…

From a macroeconomic perspective, the evolving demand for skills in the United States has been triggered by the accelerated expansion of computer and information technology, which has, in turn, brought significant changes to the workplace. Technological advances have made some wholly manual jobs obsolete. But even for many other workers, a rapidly…

In order to respond effectively to the profound impact that high technology has had on the labor market in Wisconsin, members of the Wisconsin Board of Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education (VTAE) must address a number of key human, curriculum, policy, and technological concerns. State VTAE agencies must close ranks, maintain close…

This report provides an overview of the economics of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia and on the changes and policy development in VET over the past decade. The book is organized in seven chapters, with the first chapter providing an overview of the scope, background, and changes of VET in Australia during the 1990s, as well as…

This report presents evidence regarding skill shortages in the electrotechnology trades in Australia that was gathered by an industry-led working group. The report provides data concerning the following aspects of the problem: (1) the demand for skills in the electrotechnology trades (employment levels, growth, and prospects); (2) the supply of…

New apprenticeships were introduced to Australia in January 1998 to provide practical training opportunities to a wider range of people than the traditional trade-based apprenticeship system did. The effect of the new apprenticeship initiative on the type of employment-based training being undertaken in Australia was studied by analyzing data from…

The approaches being taken and innovations being adopted at the national and European levels to anticipate occupation and qualification trends in the European Union (EU) were examined in a survey of the 15 EU member states. The survey findings were presented by country and in a synthesis. In addition, the findings for Belgium were broken down by…