This review describes Alaska's economic boom of the early 1980s, the current recession, and economic projections for the 1990s. Alaska's economy is largely influenced by oil prices, since petroleum revenues make up 80% of the state government's unrestricted general fund revenues. Expansive state spending was responsible for most of Alaska's…

Alternative work patterns are work schedules that allow employees to select the hours and length of their workweeks. Reasons for choosing alternative work patterns include transportation considerations, participation in outside activities, ability to work better during certain hours, child care, and household commitments. Examples of alternative…

Detailed statistical data on earned doctoral degrees for 1960-1981 are presented for science/engineering (S/E) fields, although non-S/E fields (such as the humanities) are represented. These data are reported in 10 charts and 15 tables. In addition to total S/E doctorates earned, data in charts address major field, sec, racial/ethnic identity for…

The education and employment of Kansas Hispanics in public, elementary and secondary schools were examined, utilizing 1980 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and 1979 data from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Data pertained to 18 counties located in western, central, and eastern Kansas: Finney, Ford, Grant, Seward, Sherman, Harvey,…

A study was conducted at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) to examine occupational/technical programs with respect to student enrollment, program completion, and occupational opportunities for graduates. Study findings included the following: (1) during any particular academic term, occupational/technical students constituted…

This research project estimated migrant and seasonal agricultural workers in four Midwestern States in 1988, using the Public Health Service's definitions of such workers. Researchers collected federal agricultural data and state reports on migrant education programs and crop patterns, and considered other potential data sources. Numerous…

This examination of computer equity argues that current educational trends--which emphasize teaching applications of computers rather than programming--will limit the computer skills of students. Added to this difficulty is the argument that some students (often minority and female students) need not be pushed to learn programming if they don't…

A nine-year profile is presented of the characteristics of certified public school employees in North Carolina between 1978-79 and 1986-87. Certified employees are grouped into functional areas based upon each person's primary work assignment. The functional areas include: (1) teachers; (2) principals; (3) assistant principals; (4) central office…

The current school reform movement has been plagued by three false assumptions. The first of these postulates that more academic requirements will strengthen the minds of students, improve their reasoning, prepare them for a rapidly changing economy, and make the U.S. economy more competitive. Although it is true that the workers of the future…

A longitudinal study began with a sample of Missouri graduates from the class of 1981 and extended over a five-year period. Thirteen area vocational-technical schools along with their corresponding sending high schools participated. A strict random sampling procedure produced roughly equivalent samples, one of vocational graduates and a second of…

A new industrial era based on electronics and the microprocessor has arrived, an era that is being called intelligent automation. Intelligent automation, in the form of robots, replaces workers, and the new products, using microelectronic devices, require significantly less labor to produce than the goods they replace. The microprocessor thus…

Prepared in 1986 for the Wisconsin Legislative Council's Special Committee on Employment Disincentives, this staff brief describes employment patterns which affect participation in the work force by persons with children. Part I summarizes the participation of persons with children in the work force, primarily women who are heads of households and…

Job satisfaction has been identified as one of the most important antecedents of turnover, although it rarely accounts for more than 16% of the variance in employee withdrawal. Several data sets collected on the Mobley, Horner, and Hollingsworth (1978) model of turnover were reanalyzed with path analytic techniques. Data analyses revealed support…

This report presents findings of a National Science Foundation (NSF) assessment of the adequacy of the supply of science, engineering, and technician (SET) personnel for meeting defense and non-defense requirements between 1982 and 1987. Selected findings included in the report follow. Based on four scenarios representing combinations of low and…

This report presents an analysis of science, engineering, and technician (SET) employment within manufacturing industries based on data from the 1977 and 1980 Occupational Employment Statistics survey. The purposes of the report are to: (1) summarize employment data for detailed SET occupations in manufacturing to describe demand patterns; (2)…