The article highlights some innovative and important approaches to employee training and retraining in anticipation of and in response to technological change. These include both collectively bargained arrangements and new state initiatives that are suggestive for future developments. (CH)

Human resource development (HRD) and productivity are allies; they are synergistic. Productivity can be defined as an increase of output with no increase in input. An increase in productivity can be accomplished in the workplace through speed-up or capital investment. When productivity improvements are introduced, the philosophy of the…

Results of a survey of 50 organizations having a progressive attitude toward training indicated that a number of organizations had "career development" programs which included skill training as well as the perspective and knowledge needed to progress on the career ladder. (SC)

Discusses the role of training in Japanese economic development and how Japanese training practices may be transferred to other cultures. Describes practices of both small and large industries, including quality control circles, cross-training, training for maintenance, supervisory training, designer training, and interdepartmental collaboration.…

Discusses the implications for home economics in meeting the need for auxiliary workers. (SB)

Some of the few U.S. studies on the link between training and productivity have used a subjective measure of productivity or a measure of the productivity of the most recently hired worker relative to a fully trained worker, rather than output, labor productivity, total factor productivity, or value-added measures. Administered by the U.S. Bureau…

The National Center on the Educational Quality of the Workforce's National Employer Survey represents a unique source of information on how employers recruit workers, organize work, invest in physical capital, and use education and training in the workplace. The U.S. Bureau of the Census administered it as a telephone survey to a nationally…

Although the United States has the largest economy in the world, it has vulnerabilities. The growth rate of productivity has slowed. The U.S. net national savings rate is at an all-time low. The nation's educational system is performing well below the best international levels. A disenchanted electorate views federal institutions with increasing…

Three centuries ago only religious schools and apprenticeship controlled by the guilds existed to provide training. Regular academic schools originated in religions that needed a well-educated clergy, and these schools offered the model for the universal basic and secondary schools that exist today in nearly all countries. The European guilds gave…

A study described the education and training providers that contributed to preparing and upgrading the Pittsburgh region's work force. Providers were classified as either: (1) formal, secondary providers; (2) formal, postsecondary providers; or (3) informal, postsecondary providers, such as training provided by employers and community-based…

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…

In 1988, the Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges (CCC) established an Economic Development Program (EDP) to support community colleges' efforts to provide education, training, and technical services to business and industry. The EDP's mission was to establish model programs, demonstration projects, and college/business…

A study described Pittsburgh's education and training system for producing skilled and semiskilled workers and sought to identify challenges that the system will face as the area's economy strives for increased vitality. The study addressed multiple education and training functions, including preparing youth for productive careers, supporting the…

Iowa's Job Retraining Program was evaluated through a review of operations, surveys/interviews with community college staff, and survey responses from 43% of the business participants. Resulting recommendations were as follows: (1) retaining the program in the Department of Economic Development rather than transferring it to the state's 15…