Workforce development is a growing need in rural communities. This article recognizes Cooperative Extension as a critical labor market intermediary in fostering local workforce solutions. It proposes a community-based approach with Extension at the center of a process for identifying key stakeholders, facilitating collaboration, and supporting…

The European labour market is challenged by changes in the demographic composition of the labour force and increasing work complexities and processes. Skills forecasting makes useful contribution to decisions by policy-makers, experts and individuals. In this publication, Cedefop presents the latest results of skills supply and demand forecasts.…

In November 2005, the province of Ontario and the federal government signed two historic agreements--the Canada-Ontario Labour Market Development Agreement and the Canada-Ontario Labour Market Partnership Agreement. One year later, on Nov. 24, 2006, key labour market stakeholders, including users, delivery agents and government came together to…

The Philippines has experienced overall growth over these last twenty years, but the growth of the manufacturing sector has been sluggish and the country has lost innovation capacity. Re-gaining momentum will depend on many factors, but skills have a key role to play to support the growing service sector, help improve the competitiveness of the…

Methods are described which can be used to estimate occupational supply and its components. The BLS structural model is described. Next, applications of data from the 1970 census and the monthly Current Population Survey to the BLS model are detailed. Problems and future opportunities in occupational supply estimation are listed. (CT)

This paper discusses the limitations of manpower planning activity as a source of policy criteria and suggests some directions for improving the state of the art. Sections I and II of the paper begin with a general discussion of the conceptual and institutional requisites of manpower planning in policy analysis and formulation. Section III extends…

A study investigated how a sample of British further education (FE) colleges used the first round of Competitiveness Funding and how it affected the development of collaboration between colleges, Technical Education Councils (TECs), industry, and government agencies. A key ingredient in successful fund bids was matching the project's activity and…

An overview of unemployment in the United States is presented, including its meaning and extent, its history, and current efforts to save the situation. Illustrative policies of other countries are examined for clues to assuring full employment for Americans. In 1975, 7 million Americans, mostly minorities and blue collar and unskilled workers,…

Realities of a multilingual, multiethnic workforce and the services available in the current employment and training system are discussed in this report, which outlines the main Federal programs that provide employment and training for the foreign-born. Also highlighted are issues raised by participants in the Immigrant Policy Project's regional…

This guide provides planners with the essential tools and methods of labor market analysis for planning local occupational programs. An introduction discusses responsibility for development of labor market information (LMI) and guide development. Chapter 1 is a brief checklist of the steps involved in developing and using LMI in program planning.…

A study analyzed the changing nature of older persons in the labor force, factors that may affect their work decisions, and policy changes that could facilitate their continuation or reentry into the work force beyond the normal retirement age. Data examined during the survey indicate that while the number of people aged 65 and older is continuing…

The effectiveness of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 was critiqued. WIA was praised for providing an avenue for communication among state and local agencies during development of workforce development plans, potentially allowing individuals to choose from a wider array of services and service providers, spreading the concept of one-stop…

In September 1986, a comprehensive labor market survey of Santa Cruz County, California, was conducted by Cabrillo College to assess the employment and training needs of business leaders in the county. Questionnaires mailed to 428 randomly selected businesses and services yielded the following findings: (1) the service and retail industries were…

This report reviews activities of phase two of a research project with the general objective of developing methodology to better assess the needs of vocational-technical education in urban areas, and specific objectives of refining the methodology developed in phase one for the Jacksonville, Florida, labor market and extending the methodology and…

The 1987 publication "Workforce 2000" included the following predictions for the remainder of the 20th century: (1) the U.S. economy would grown at a relatively healthy pace; (2) U.S. manufacturing would be a much smaller share of the economy in 2000; (3) the workforce would grow slowly, becoming older, more female, and more…