There are hundreds of local labor markets fuel the American economy, and each one is driven by the needs of the local area's mix of industries and the skills of its workers. For each labor market to operate at its peak potential, these needs and skills must align. Achieving alignment requires local education and training providers to convey…

This article examines collaborative initiatives individual foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) develop with China's vocational education and training (VET) schools amid localised shortages of skilled workers. It thus focuses on employer initiatives in responding to VET system weaknesses rather than, as is common, those weaknesses. Using Suzhou…

This paper was presented to a meeting of the Wellington Exchange, an international group of higher education officials, in December 2008. One of the topics of the meeting was around the issue of possible skills shortages emerging as a result of demographic trends, with the ageing of the population of developed countries. The paper argues that this…

In 2004 NCVER invited proposals from a consortia of researchers to address questions relating to changing work skill needs and work organisation arrangements and their implications for the vocational education and training sector. The National Institute of Labour Studies, Flinders University, and the Centre for Post-compulsory Education and…

The article describes the efforts of the St. Louis Regional Industrial Development Corporation to change the image of vocational-technical education in order to meet the projected manpower needs in the labor market. (AG)

Economic upheaval in Central and Eastern Europe has led to excessive labor supply, increased unemployment, and enforced economic inactivity. Economic policies promoting growth, efficiency, and education and training to improve the quality and adaptability of the workforce are needed. (SK)

Review of the Higher Diploma, Hong Kong's equivalent to the associate degree, suggests continuing changes in labor market needs that must be considered in educational planning. However, higher education and industry must address both the economic and the social needs of society. (SK)

The principle of supply and demand has been chosen to capture and present quantitatively an important data source for describing employment potential. The Pennsylvania State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee has developed an Occupational Information System (OIS) and companion microcomputer version (Micro-OIS). This system contains…

Recent statistical investigations indicate that labor market imbalance has increased during the past decade and has had important deleterious effects on the nation's inflation and productivity growth records. A growing difficulty in filling skilled jobs at a given unemployment rate is reflected. Business community analysts attribute the growing…

The result of a plan evolved in order to assess the educational potentials of Memphis with a view toward their exploitation to the fullest to meet the manpower demands of the industrial and commercial community today. An analysis was made of present and projected job vacancies and the character of these positions was determined with respect to…

This paper reports on the outcomes of a replication study of a survey of British employers that requested information on the qualifications sought when recruiting employees and on subsequent training and development. While the British survey was interested in the uptake and use of the British National Vocational Qualifications, the study reported…

This study was undertaken to determine the occupational opportunities available for high school students and graduates in the Northwest R-I School District of House Springs, Missouri. Specific objectives of the survey were (1) to locate possible part-time and full-time career opportunities for youth and adults, (2) to secure occupational…

The report, one of a series resulting from a project to design planning procedures for local and State vocational agencies, describes LIONS (Labor and Industry Occupational Needs System), a computer system designed to provide forecasts of the demand for various occupational skills by area for the State of New Jersey. The methodology may have…

By comparing supply and demand data for each of 142 occupational categories, Pennsylvania program planners can spot critical shortages in any of the Commonwealth's major labor markets. (Editor)

The educational goal of preparing each student for a productive place in society is not being met. (JS)