Empirical evidence is insufficient to support or refute claims that increased competition in the training market in Australia will produce the benefits proponents claim or the severe drawbacks upon which opponents speculate. Research about strengthening demand suggests competitive processes would be feasible in most areas. Research is conclusive…

Australia's construction industry employs nearly 600,000 workers, over 7% of total national employment. The industry is heavily dominated by males (nearly 88%) and full-time workers (86%). Much of the work in this industry involves subcontracting and is cyclical. Construction employers provided much less structured training than the average…

Nearly 590,000 persons are employed in education in Australia, two-thirds of whom are women. One-third of education jobs are part time, and 40% of the work force is over age 45, suggesting that labor shortages may emerge in the next decade. As would be expected, this sector employs more persons with bachelor's and higher degrees than any other…

Australia's finance and insurance industry is among the 5 industry divisions in which females outnumber males. Women's share of industry jobs has risen from 51% to 55% in the last decade. However, there is a pronounced gap in earnings between male and female workers. Employers expressed below-average satisfaction with vocational education and…

In Australia, the health and community services industry is the nation's fourth largest, and employment has grown by 39% since 1987, almost twice as much as the labor force as a whole. The industry is the most female dominated in Australia (77%) and the second-largest source of jobs for women. Thirty-eight percent of jobs in the sector are part…

The impact of hiring temporary workers during the tight labor markets of the 1990s was examined through case studies of six hospitals and five automobile plants. The hospitals varied in size from 450 to 6,000 employees. The auto suppliers included unionized and nonunionized small and large companies. The case studies included extensive interviews…

The recession has fueled calls in Congress to extend and expand unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Although UI expansion is needed in the short run, the program is also in need of more fundamental and permanent reform to transform it from an industrial era program to one that is better suited for the New Economy. Policymakers must take the…

Describes activities and recommendations of the Association of American Colleges of Pharmacy concerning future needs in pharmaceutical education. Focus is on status of and trends in health care change, advancing the process of curriculum development, teaching and learning processes, the role of experiential learning, practitioner education, and…

Reports on the results of a survey of more than 1200 Russian adolescents concerning the conflict between work and education commitments. Reveals that almost one in four students work parttime, mainly in unskilled jobs, to purchase fashionable goods. Discusses implications and possible responses to this situation. (MJP)

Describes the current South African university curriculum and degree structure, and proposes a new, more flexible model of academic progression that aims to improve articulation within the university system and between vocational/technical and higher education. The model is also intended to satisfy an emerging labor market need for more graduates…

A review of literature on declining Black student achievement attributes the problem to a hostile campus environment, competition with military service, reduced student aid, changes in Black males, poor preparation, choice of work over education, family deterioration, drug use, negative attitudes and behavior, and lack of Black leadership. (MSE)

This statement of the American Association of Dental Schools outlines salient issues in the future of dental education. Issues concern the quality of undergraduate, graduate, and continuing dental education, links with medical education, supply of and demand for dentists, accreditation, licensure, and relationships within the dental profession.…

In an era when colleges must work hard to recruit students, understanding college-bound student views and concerns is critical. Trends are apparent in student expectations of the college experience and services, costs and quality, curricular offerings, job market, and extracurricular opportunities. (MSE)

This article discusses the impact of critical work education and social exclusion in aiding and assisting school-aged children and young adults through projects that help reshape their connections to self and society. The visual and performing arts gave at-risk young people opportunities to explore their biographical histories and personal…

The purpose of "Focus" is to provide coverage of poverty-related research, events, and issues, and to acquaint a large audience with the work of the Institute for Research on Poverty by means of short essays on selected pieces of research. This issue contains the following articles: (1) The new global labor market (Richard B. Freeman);…