America's labor market presents a paradox. Although the unemployment rate is just 3.9%, there are more jobs open than people who can fill them. Nationwide, there are roughly 68 workers for every 100 open jobs. Many factors contribute to this workforce shortage, but one of the most significant is a growing skills gap -- millions of workers across…

Despite the growing popularity of apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and in-school youth apprenticeships in the United States, young adults who lack the credentials and connections to seamlessly enter postsecondary pathways remain overlooked. Young-adult-serving agencies and community-based organizations (CBOs) are underutilized key actors in…

The ethnic and racial diversity of the residents of the United States of America is one of the country's unique strengths; however, Black, Latinx, Pacific Islander, Native, and certain Asian American workers face wide racial inequities in educational attainment, employment, and income. Additional workforce policies are needed now to counter…

This bibliography summarizes recent research on the structure and effectiveness of workforce development programs. While the term "workforce development" can mean many things, this document focuses on programs to help low-skill, low-wage and displaced workers increase their employment and earnings, as well as labor market trends that…

Discusses government training programs in Canada and how they might be improved; the need for a more comprehensive training strategy; and apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs. (JOW)

The authors challenge the prevalent view that the cure for rising welfare costs is to put more people to work. (RJ)

There has been an expansion of the role played by organized labor in vocational training. The number of apprenticeable occupations has been increasing with the growing addition of nontraditional skill areas. Government-funded training programs provide necessary resources for program development and implementation. (CT)

The National Apprenticeship Program is the term used to describe the coalition of management, labor, and government that supports the apprenticeship program in the United States and the aggregate nationwide of such programs and enrolled apprentices. Apprenticeship programs are operated by employers, employer associations, or jointly by management…

Equal opportunities for women and blacks exist in this industry, which is characterized by rapidly expanding manpower needs. (BH)

Responses from 22 automotive/electronics small businesses in Wales were compared with a 1996 survey. Results show that government initiatives such as Modern Apprenticeships had limited impact on small businesses. Barriers to training such as time, cost, and motivation also appeared, suggesting that mere availability of training programs does not…

This report describes the provisions of the Veterans' Education Amendments of 1986 (H.R. 3747), which would amend chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code, to provide for educational assistance for apprenticeship or other on-the-job training under the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program. The first part of the report contains the…

Specific areas that form the core of the "Marshall Plan" (for U.S. Secretary of Labor Ray Marshall) are described as offsite training for unemployed apprentices and allied craftworkers; reimbursed employment and training cost grants; apprenticeship-school projects; and apprenticeship innovations. Some statistical data on the number of…

Drawing on innovative workforce development efforts around the country, Jobs for the Future (JJF) publications, tool kits, and other resources respond to the challenges to advancement for low-wage workers. Occasional papers in the series Advancement for Low-Wage Workers seeks to elevate discussion of this issue within and outside the workforce…

This annual report on employment and occupational requirements, resources, use, and training is composed of four reports. The first reviews significant employment and unemployment developments in calendar 1980. In the second report employment and training program performance in fiscal 1980 is described. Activities are overviewed for Comprehensive…

A descriptive study was made of the roles of training and federal programs in helping youths gain employment in selected high-wage occupations that do not require a four-year college degree. Interviews conducted with federal agency officials and industry representatives found little hard data but elicited officials' views on this issue. The study…