The demand for improved workplace skills in the U.S. is rapidly rising, and U.S. industries, employees, and educational systems are struggling to respond. This paper describes the Skills Advantage program, an effort led by employers and facilitated by Kirkwood Community College to address regional employment needs. This work-ready certificate…

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) report (2007) highlights that labour productivity, education and migration play important roles in shaping competitiveness, growth and development in Southeast Asia. The statistics also reveal interesting aspects of labour mobility. Thirteen and a half million migrants originate from countries in the…

The relationship between vocational education/training (VET) and economic growth is complex. In less-advantaged regions with low skill levels, employers may adopt strategies accommodating low skills, creating a vicious circle. A more proactive strategy may be hindered by the new VET system in Britain. (SK)

The tailoring of grants-in-aid to wage levels in the localities which receive them enjoys growing popularity among federal policymakers; two ongoing programs illustrate the flexibility of this technique. The article describes the procedures currently used to index the CETA and Medicare programs and their data source, the ES-202 system. (CT)

The Appalachian Regional Commission voted its commitment, including $1 million funding, to help states upgrade employment/basic skills to address current labor market needs, create new jobs in the region, and increase productivity. Also voted to support extension of the Vocational Education Act. Research priorities included modernizing vocational…