U.S. Trade Competitiveness and Work Force Education and Training

Book excerpt: This document reports the oral and written testimony submitted at a Congressional hearing on ways in which the government, business, and industry are working to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. work force through education and training initiatives. Witnesses included the following: U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich; U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary David Longanecker; Thomas Bailey, Columbia University Institute on Education and the Economy; Howard Rosen, Competitiveness Policy Council; Howard Samuel, Council on Competitiveness; Stanley Litow, IBM Foundation; Roberts Jones, National Alliance of Business; Leo Reddy, National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing; and Sanford Weill, Travelers Group, New York. Their testimony focused on the need for national policy initiatives to reform schools and job training to produce a competitive work force with the skills needed for the next century. They suggested earlier emphasis on acquiring skills needed on the job, more focus on career education at earlier grades, and the necessity for employer input into the school mission. Programs that are fulfilling these ideals were described and the necessity for more collaborative efforts was emphasized. (KC)