"An Overview of Coal and the Economy in Appalachia," a report commissioned by the Appalachian Regional Commission, details major trends in coal employment and production in the Appalachian Region over the past two decades. The report examines where employment and production losses have been concentrated within the Region, and also what…

In many rural areas, the local college is the center of the community: It is the primary source of education and job training for residents; a cultural hub offering arts and sporting events; a hotspot for broadband internet access; and, sometimes, the area's largest employer. When a rural region has few other large institutions, the local college…

California is at a crossroads in terms of STEM and health workforce development. On the one hand, California has more available entry-level STEM jobs than any other state in the country and a steadily growing health workforce, giving large segments of its population access to stable careers. On the other hand, California's public colleges and…

This issue of "Policy Insights" provides a review of the past five years of the cost and value of higher education, which have gained increased policymaker, consumer, and media attention. The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has worked with four of its member states (Hawai'i, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) to…

Human capital is a broad and multifaceted concept encompassing many different types of investment in people. However, the key aspect of human capital has to do with the knowledge and skills embodied in people. Human capital has always been an extremely important determinant of individual and social progress. In the present scenario, it is the…

Using current national data, this report describes emerging labor force and employment trends among industries and occupations expected to experience the fastest rates of growth or decline by the year 2000. In addition, the report analyzes the challenges and opportunities for higher education arising from a developing technological base…

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of the generation born between 1977 and 1994, the "baby boom echo," on the demand for higher education and workforce development in Arkansas. Although the birthrate in Arkansas for this period does not correlate with the national trend, increased school enrollment and in-migration in…

Demographic developments in Western Europe are examined in this report. It can be used by secondary and college level teachers in preparing lessons or by students themselves. There are three major parts. The first part, "Past Trends," focuses on the increase in European population. The size of that population and its growth over a long…

A method for forecasting the number of college graduates in the United Kingdom is described, and suggestions are offered about ways that society should react to influence declining enrollments and potential reductions in technologically skilled graduates. Consideration is given to the implications of recruiting noncollege-bound individuals to…

University education in Alberta during the next two decades is addressed in relation to the increasing in-migration and uncertain participation. Although Alberta has the highest rate of net population gain among all provinces due to in-migration, it is not clear how many of the 18-24-year-old cohort will be job-seekers rather than potential…

A group of 12 recruiting and placement officers present their views on the greatest problems affecting their profession in the next decade. Issues discussed include the education of minority students, globalization, shrinking labor pools, and human resource management. (TE)

This report examines workforce preparation in the state of Illinois within the following general areas: (1) the current and future workforce preparation needs of business; (2) higher education's role in relation to the roles of secondary education, business, labor, and government in providing workforce preparation programs; and (3) the…

Recent trends in the dynamics and character of the U.S. population, outlook for the remainder of 1980s, and prospects for long-term growth are reviewed. Estimated at 232 million as of mid-1982, the U.S. population is currently growing at about 1 percent/year, one of the developed world's highest growth rates. Natural increase (births minus deaths)…

This report was issued from a 2006 meeting of individuals representing a variety of higher education institutions. The purpose of the meeting was to consider the future of higher education with particular attention to its built environment. The report provides a contextual overview of the changing landscape of higher education by identifying the…

Geographers from Asian nations, the United Kingdom, and the United States wrote this population geography curriculum guide to help universities in developing nations of Asia increase the amount of population-oriented materials in their undergraduate curricula. The developers do not advise that the guide be used in its entirety for a single course.…