California's community colleges continue to play a crucial role in the state's economy by providing students with the skills and knowledge to succeed and by advancing the economic growth and global competitiveness of California and its regional economies through the Economic and Workforce Development Program (EWD). The EWD program invests in the…

There is a persistent concern over mismatches between the degrees awarded by universities and the needs of the job market. Although there are shortages of graduates in some fields, many university graduates have difficulty finding jobs that make good use of their education. This has been discussed in newspaper articles, in education and business…

Is the United States getting it wrong when it comes to educating tomorrow's innovators in critical fields? It has been known for years that the only way to compete globally in information technology, engineering, nanotechnology, robotics and other fields is to give students the best educational opportunities possible. But do individuals have a…

This working paper serves as a preview of the second in a series of four policy briefs that will explore the nexus between postsecondary education and workforce development. The completed policy brief will focus on a number of questions about California's workforce and examine economic and workforce trends in California, including projected…

The contributions of California higher education to the state's economic prosperity and to its social and cultural health are discussed. Direct economic impacts of higher education are reviewed, and the methodology and assumptions employed in economic impact studies are described. Studies by the major segments of California higher education…

THIS REPORT OUTLINES PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED AND PROGRESS MADE IN THE STANISLAUS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, TRAINING PROJECT. INITIAL DIFFICULTY IN SECURING FEDERAL APPROVAL AND FUNDS FOR PREVOCATIONAL OR BASIC EDUCATION WAS ENDED BY THE AMENDED MANPOWER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT. HOWEVER, DIFFICULTIES, MAINLY IN REORIENTING PREVOCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL…

The California Workforce Literacy Task Force conducted studies and surveyed existing literature to determine the status of literacy and other basic skills in the state's work force. The results are reported with a series of recommendations for a broad-based state strategy to improve worker productivity through better educational opportunities. Ten…

This report examines the composition, challenges, needs, and training opportunities of the emerging nontraditional work force. By the year 2000, 87 percent of newcomers to the United States' workforce will be Asians, Hispanics, Blacks, women returning to work, and immigrants. After an introduction, the report provides information on the following:…

This publication highlights key messages and themes of a conference to discuss critical questions, challenges, and opportunities facing California's welfare and workforce development systems. It is intended as a resource manual that presents the most up-to-date thinking on how policies and services can be designed to better meet the needs of…

Eleven papers on rural economic development cover challenges and opportunities; employment trends affecting nonmetropolitan areas; status of nonmetropolitan women and minorities; case studies of Vermont, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and California; western urban and regional development; economic development in small cities; and rural policy…

Despite 6 years of economic growth, California's workforce investment system faces the following challenges: (1) meeting the needs of workers who do not earn enough to bring their families significantly above the poverty level; (2) meeting the needs of employers who face continuing shortages of workers with needed skills; and (3) meeting the needs…