The 1970s were marked by an increase in the level of education attainment of the average worker. By 1979 thirty-six per cent of all workers over 18 completed at least one year of college, and the percentage of workers not completing high school declined considerably. While the proportion of men participating in the labor force continued to fall,…

Findings are presented from a May 1969 survey on the growing number of "moonlighters" in the work force: (1) one in twenty workers held more than one job during the survey week; (2) three of every ten multiple jobholders were women, nearly double the proportion of 1969; (3) the number of men with multiple jobs remained about the same; (4) the…

Labor force participation rates for the years 1967 and 1987 indicate a significant trend toward early retirement by men (beginning in their fifties). Women in their fifties, on the other hand, have increased their labor force participation rate. By the age of 60, however, their labor force participation rates also decline sharply. Although this…

Systematic knowledge about the dimensions and levels of literacy and information about its distribution are prerequisites for forming good educational policy. This issue discusses the conduct and findings of the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS). The IALS was not intended to rank literacy skills across countries, but was intended to make…

Many dramatic changes in the U.S. labor force are projected to occur around the turn of the century. For the first time, the United States will have an age cohort in the work force with equal representation by sex, that is, 50-50 for men and women aged 16 to 24 in the labor force. It is projected that in the year 2000 there will be 2.6 million…

This research brief reviews recent and projected trends in the economy and the implications of those trends for the college-educated population in the labor market. Tables provide data on: (1) labor force participation rate by educational attainment and race, for 1978 and 1988; (2) unemployment rate by educational attainment and race, for 1978 and…

Women comprised 43% of the United States labor force in 1980, up from 29% in 1950. The surge in women's employment is linked to more delayed marriage, divorce, separation, women's increased education, lower fertility, rapid growth in clerical and service jobs, inflation, and changed attitudes toward "women's place." Employment has risen…

The rising number of multi-earner families has been one of the most important socioeconomic developments of the 1970s; since 1970, the number of such families has increased by more than 3 million. Almost exclusively responsible for the rising number of multi-earner families have been the steep annual increases in the number and proportion of…

The U.S. economy, workplace, and work are in the midst of historic change. New ways of organizing and managing the workplace and new ways of working are becoming increasingly common. Large companies are giving way to smaller and leaner organizations. Today, the typical business establishment employs 15 people. Across all industries, smaller…

This theme issue of the newsletter "Southern Perspectives" contains five articles on labor supply and demand issues in the rural South: "An Overview of Employment Changes in the Nonmetropolitan South" (David L. Barkley) examines nonmetro earnings trends in 16 southern states and employment trends in selected industries in the…

The five volumes of Rural Conditions and Trends for 1990-1994 contain information and statistical data on economic and social conditions and trends of interest to rural educators and researchers. Articles cover the following areas: macroeconomic trends; employment; unemployment; industry; earnings; income; poverty; population; national economic…

Vocational education plays a significant role in the nation's economic development in terms of its capacity to make individuals more employable. It can respond to specific regional needs by producing the skilled workers for a rapidly growing industry. If, however, the industries of a region do not utilize the skills of the existing labor force, it…

Devised for secondary school students, the booklet explains current employment trends, policies, and issues of Canada's labor market. The book is divided into three parts. Part I discusses the labor force in terms of supply and demand, the working age population, the labor force participation rate, total employment, unemployment, and seasonal…

The world population is changing: world population is growing rapidly, more people live in urban areas, and the share of the world's population living in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations is shrinking. The U.S. population is becoming older and more diverse. Across the United States, demographic changes are…

The proportion of individuals with little training varies greatly among European countries. Throughout Europe, nonparticipation in the labor market and unemployment seem relatively synonymous. Three degrees of labor market openness with regard to individuals with low levels of training are apparent throughout Europe: (1) in Portugal, skill…