Training America's Work Force: A Private Sector Base Line and Its Impact on National Security
Abstract
Throughout its history, the United States has remained economically strong and secure through a productive work force powering its industries. Low skill jobs provided high wages and supported a high standard of living. In recent decades, however, foreign economic competitors have overtaken the U.S. through better training, higher skilled work forces. Our competitors work forces are more productive and able to shift to new production requiring different skills because of their broad, continuous training systems. U.S. industries have also moved low skill jobs to low wage countries in an attempt to remain competitive. In order to regain the economic edge and protect our national security the U.S. work place must change and U.S. workers must match their foreign counterparts in skills and flexibility. The U.S. training system, however, is ill prepared to take on the challenge of the work force. U.S. attitudes towards lifetime training also need to change. This paper examines the private sector of the training industry and recommends changes to the g system to enable it to meet the needs of 21st century U.S. workers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA276857
Entities
People
- Samuel J. Apple
Organizations
- Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy