In August 1983, when the second largest employer in Washington County, Maryland, closed its plant, the local unemployment rate was 13%. The following month, Hagerstown Junior College (HJC) received $50,000 in state funds to initiate a dislocated worker (DLW) program. The program included orientation by a counselor, diagnostic testing, and…

This document describes a project conducted by Britain's Further Education Unit, at Cleveland Technical College in Redcar, England, to deliver adult education for the unemployed in local community facilities. The report is intended to help college administrators who are interested in delivering college programs for adults on an outreach basis. The…

In light of the many thousands of displaced workers in Michigan, a program was developed to help laid-off workers assess their capabilities, relate their skills to job market needs, overcome the grief resulting from job loss, learn how to approach prospective employers, and successfully market their abilities. The 3-month program was offered at…

Discusses the socioeconomic effects of plant closings, focusing on the problems faced by dislocated workers who lack the financial resources to complete a retraining program. Describes the Eastern Iowa Community College District's efforts to train and counsel dislocated workers through its Caterpillar Worker Assistance Center. (DMM)

Discusses the effects of technological advancement on the labor force. States that although technological innovation usually affects blue collar workers more than scientists and engineers, there is some evidence to show that the rapid growth in technological careers is not proportional in all industries. (TW)

Discusses some of the problems in employment shifts and unemployment caused by new technologies in offices and factories. Addresses the Job Training Partnership Act (Title III) which was established as the primary assistance vehicle for displaced workers. Calls for workers to receive sufficient time to adjust to technologies. (TW)

Discussions centered on circumstances faced by laid-off workers in Portsmouth, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Upper Cumberland, Tennessee, and Gary, West Virginia. These diverse Appalachian communities are prototypes of the extent of local distress imposed by the impersonal workings of the market and the absence of precedents for dealing with…

Rapid changes in technology and the economy have led to major staff reductions in the workplace, and have increased the need to assist displaced employees with outplacement counseling that is responsive, cost-effective, humane, and on-going. College counselors have the basic skills to effectively expand their role in this field in ways that…

Contends that unemployment is an example of market failure. Argues that explaining unemployment from this supply-demand approach is preferable to the traditional explanation that high "real wages" are the cause. Reveals that many prominent economists entered the field because of their concern for the social problems caused by…

This collection of 16 case studies is intended to illustrate how the public and private sectors have managed to collaborate in helping workers adapt to changing employment circumstances. The case studies are grouped into three categories. The first six case studies are examples of programs that have been developed to assist in training for new…

With the many layoffs and downsizing of companies during the 1990s, many displaced workers have turned to temporary employment to earn a living while looking for permanent employment. Others have adopted "temping" as a more long-term work style. Although it may not be possible to predict whether an individual will find satisfaction or…

This issue discusses the problems that frequently accompany involuntary job loss. The types of problems experienced by dislocated workers are discussed under these categories: emotional, family, financial, physical health, job skill obsolescence, and lack of basic academic skills. The report also presents approaches that were taken by four…

Discusses the trend toward job displacement in the United States as a result of technological advancements. Considers the need for science education for the millions of out-of-school adult workers. Challenges the science education community to address this need in a timely manner. (TW)

Five local collaborative efforts in several Northwest states addressed the problems created by worker dislocation in unique ways. Each partnership involved educational agencies and other key actors such as employers, organized labor, and government agencies. When the Department of Labor awarded a dislocated worker retraining demonstration grant to…

The Future of Work project grew out of an essay of the same title by Frithjof Bergmann, a philosophy professor at the University of Michigan. In spring 1983, Professor Bergmann and a colleague, Richard Gull, founded the Center for New Work of Flint in Michigan, where the problems besieging the U.S. auto industry were focusing attention on the…