Hiring people who have served prison sentences has never been a priority in the United States. For men and women who were once incarcerated, finding any job is difficult; finding a sustainable, family-supporting job is nearly impossible. Today the country is at a critical crossroads on this issue, and it's time for change. As the nation works in…

This article describes how out-of-work miners are engaged in the Empowering Education Initiative, a unique alliance between Country Music Television (CMT) and community colleges in Appalachia. The initiative, which includes a website and a series of country music concerts, is changing the conversation in the Appalachian region, giving hope to…

Governors are increasingly aware that the emerging economy will provide few well-paying jobs for workers who have not earned a postsecondary degree or a relevant workforce certificate. Fifty years ago, nearly 80 percent of all jobs required only a high school diploma or less and most paid a good wage. Fast-forward to data from 2013 and that number…

This document examines recent developments in strategic planning for employment, identifies key elements of strategic plans, examines issues to be addressed in implementing such plans, examines New Jersey's state plan in detail, and provides short sketches of the strategic plans for employment in six other states. Following an executive summary,…

A study examined six cases where job training and economic development had been successfully linked through an interorganizational arrangement. Cases were nominated by U.S. Employment and Training Administration officials, job training and economic development experts, and published reports. The six organizations of primary focus were Pima County…

In fiscal year (FY) 1988, a total of 18,869 individuals took only noncredit classes at Prince George's Community College (PGCC), compared to 17,599 who enrolled exclusively in credit classes. A study was conducted to assess student outcomes in continuing education, using data from state reporting systems, interviews with apprenticeship and…

This report presents findings of a survey of postsecondary educational institutions in Maryland concerning their efforts to provide specialized education and training programs for employees of Maryland businesses. All 16 community public colleges, 12 public four-year campuses, 13 independent institutions, and one private career school responded to…

This second annual plan of Maryland's Department of Employment and Training (DET) outlines goals, objectives, and implementation strategies and highlights programs initiated during its first year of operation. Sections 1, 2, and 3 offer the mission statement, historical overview, and departmental structure. Section 4 outlines DET goals and…

The Maryland State Board for Community Colleges designed a project to develop outcome measures for continuing education and to conduct a survey of vocational-technical continuing education students at Maryland community colleges. Five types of outcomes were identified for inclusion in a performance profile for college programs: student pass rate…

Increasingly, small and mid-sized businesses are becoming just as focused on work force training as large corporations are. The training being provided by smaller companies is extending beyond nuts-and-bolts instruction into the area of core business skills, such as leading, managing, thinking creatively, and solving problems. States are…

The Maryland Workforce Educational Needs Assessment Survey was conducted to determine employer satisfaction with Maryland's educational systems and to identify areas where more training is needed. In June 1999, questionnaires were mailed to 8,175 Maryland employers. An additional 2,395 questionnaires were sent to business organizations and local…