Provides background on the labor market problems motivating the Clinton-Reich initiatives on training and schooling and briefly summarizes the proposed strategies. It also considers evidence supporting or contradicting the plan's assumptions. (GLR)

Over the past 15 years, the level of initial training among French youth has shown a rapid rise, with one of the highest rates of full-time school attendance in Europe. This sharp increase in school attendance clearly improves the training capital. In their hiring policies, employers have become more and more selective, with the result that…

Considers the effects on education and training of (1) global competition; (2) declining per capita/family incomes and concomitantly rising income inequality; and (3) workplace changes. Sees increased role for educators in retraining displaced workers; training students for full participation in work, social, and civic contexts; and teaching…