Talent Attraction, Wyoming Style

Wyoming is recruiting workers from Michigan in the hopes of addressing labor shortages and growing the economy and population. It's good to see an article that discusses the allure of rural living. So much "talent attraction" seems to stereotype a desireable locale as a city with loft apartments. Let's face it, a lot of people want more peaceful environment. And some actually like winter! Bottom line -- having a strong job offer is critical. My other thought about this article is that it is further evidence of the labor market shortage faced by the energy industry. The problem is probably worse in a sparsely populated state such as Wyoming, but things aren't looking too good for SWPA. After all, the industry has a disproportionately older workforce and people are bound to eventually leave the workforce. My question is, "What are we doing to build a pipeline of future workers?"

What Happened to US Air?

Five years ago Pittsburgh received some particularly bad economic news -- US Airways announced that it planned to lay off a significant number of workers. Politicians and community leaders scrambled to respond and promises for worker assistance were made. So what happened to the former US Airways workers? In a few weeks, the Institute of Politics will release a "Case in Point" publication that looks at how our region's workforce system responded to these layoffs. There's a story on the topic in last weekend's Tribune Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_467929.html One of the most striking "lessons learned" is the fact that our workforce system does not do a very robust job tracking its own performance. Thus, we have insufficient data about who we served, how we served them and what happened as a result.

Picture This

A large auditorium is filled with high school students. They're beginning a week of healthcare career exploration activities. They shout out the names of the healthcare professions they know. “Doctor!” “Nurse!” “Dentist!” The lights dim and the students see picture of an emergency room. Text appears above the people in the picture, identifying their job and regional labor statistics. “What’s a radiology tech?” one student asks. “What’s an Associate’s degree?” asks another. With a look of shock, a girl in the front row whispers, “Those numbers can’t be right. I thought everyone in healthcare was rich.”

This is the scene that HCPI's speakers experience on a regular basis. In our brief presentations, we are often able to answer these questions. But if it's a good conversation, additional questions may arise at a later date. What are we going to do to ensure that there's someone available to continue this conversation?

Be What I Want to Be

I'm a sucker for a good story. Maybe that's why I absolutely love the Maryland Business Roundtable's career exploration website: http://www.bewhatiwanttobe.com/index.php You can read about people in a variety of jobs and industries. The site tells you what they do, why they pursued their career and profiles a "day in the life." They also explain how certain classes helped prepare them for their work. Clever... very clever.

Career Research Websites

I've been cruising the Internet, checking out career research websites. Here's a brief list of sites I like.. Select Resources Career Planning 1. www.onetcenter.org/tools.html 2. www.princetonreview.com/cte/quiz 3. www.paworkstats.state.pa.us/default.asp 4. www.bls.gov/k12/html/edu_over.htm 5. www.keys2work.org 6. www.monster.com 7. www.careerbuilder.com 8. www.vault.com 9. www.quintcareers.com 10. www.clgh.org/locations/jecec/jobscareers/careers.html Industry/Economic Information 1. www.clpgh.org/subject/business/news.html 2. www.businessweek.com/magazine/toc/05_02/B39150502industry.htm 3. www.fultcom/Tindex/13.html Company Research Resources 1. www.quintcareers.com/career_centers/ 2. www.learnwebskills.com/company/index.html 3. www.irin.com/cgi-bin/main.cgi 4. www.vault.com 5. www.forbes.com/lists/2006/18/06fk_The-Forbes-2000_Rank.html 6. www.sba.gov/index.html

Singapore Luring Away Top US Talent

I've noticed some increased attention to the fact that the US lags behind other countries in producing a critical mass of engineers and scientists. (Although, there's an interesting counterpoint in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.) Jut when I thought it was safe... I read about yet another international talent dilemna -- the best of the best are being recruited to work elsewhere. (In a global economy, I'm not sure this is a bad thing.) Regardless, the policy issues are intriguing. Not only is the Singapore government pouring money into the development of biotech, they're creating a decidely different regulatory environment. "Cores of the world's top companies and scientists have been lured by promises of hassle-free funding and the freedom to follow their research interests, unfettered by the conflicted ethical debate in the United States about the use of stem cells." Read more...

Teens Want Jobs

Despite all of the adult fretting about teenagers' work ethic, teens are eager to join the workforce. A recent Boys and Girls Club survey asked teens what they would like to see done differently for teens in the US. Thirty-nine percent stated that they want more youth jobs! Moreover, many teens believe that a good job is a key component of the American dream. Read more...

The Aging Workforce Opportunity

Last Friday, the Institute of Politics (in partnership with the Three Rivers WIB) hosted a forum on the aging SWPA workforce. Nearly 150 business leaders, elected officials, social service agencies and foundation program officers gathered to better understand the challenges and opportunities created by our demographics. The speakers were outstanding. I won't mention them all here. I hope to have some more info (and actual presentations) soon posted on the HCPI website. For me, one of the most surprising points was that Pennsylvania may actually be ahead of the curve. (The Boston College speakers have researched other states' actions on this topic and PA is looking good.) And that was before they knew that Governor Rendell issued Executive Order 2006-04 Pennsylvania 2020 Vision Project. This directs agencies to develop plans to meet the challenges of serving an older population. Among other things, the project will evaluate the impact of the aging population on the workforce. Go PA!

Not Work Ready

I just started reading a report from ETS about High School Reform and Work and found this sobering statistic. According to research from the National Association of Manufacturers, the most common reason why companies reject applicants as hourly production workers is a lack of basic employability skills such as attendance, timeliness, work ethic, etc. (Sixty-nine percent of respondents chose this response.) I wonder how many of those production jobs are making the devices that make work more flexible and convenient (cell phones, computers, etc.) Keep in mind that we market many modern products by telling people that their purchase will buy them some form of freedom or an opportunity to break the rules. No wonder timeliness and attendance aren't respected.

Tomorrow's Workforce

Check out this Newsweek article about education reform in North Carolina. You'll see some interesting comments from N.C. Governor, Michael Easley. According to Easley, the current education model needs to be reconsidered. The flawed model was designed to send a few to college and to let others drop out or graduate with minimal skills. This doesn't fly if you want to be a global economic leader. So how do you build a stronger education system? Career preparation is a major component... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13122863/site/newsweek/

Blogging Job Seekers

I can't believe we need to remind people that it's probably poor form to "secretly" blog the place you're trying to get an internship or job. But we do. Read this NYTimes article. Employer/Lawyer: "From a legal perspective, it is generally accepted that companies have the right to impose controls on their employees' use of computers and other equipment used for communication... As for content — information generated within a company — the law also allows employers to set limits, even on airing the company laundry outside the office... Private employees do not receive the protection of the First Amendment because there is no government action involved." Jobseeker: "Everybody I've read about that got fired for having a blog is on to such great things." (This is from a girl who was fired for blogging about her co-workers.) Gawker.com: "Not even a newborn puppy on a pink cloud is as cute as a secret work blog." I bet you'll see a lot more employer action on this topic.

Boomers Discover Career Counseling for College Kids

Yet another major newspaper is running story about hiring career counselors. The spin: Boomers can afford to hire a counselor to get the kid off the couch and into the workplace. The article also mentions a good job search site (getthejob.com). Read the NYTimes Article...

Outsourcing Nursing Education?

Immigration is once again a very hot topic in the news. It's nice to finally see an article that expands the discussion beyond the low wage job debate. In fact, today's NYTimes discusses the proposed US Senate immigration bill. This bill eliminates the cap on immigrant nurses, opening our doors wide open to much needed trained nurses. Will unlimited foreign nurse recruitment solve the US nurse shortage or create an international crisis by depleting developing countries of their much needed medical talent? It may do both. Why can't we train enough nurses in the US? It's not for lack of qualified applicants. In fact, there are more qualified people seeking nursing education than there are places to educate them. "In 2005, American nursing schools rejected almost 150,000 applications from qualified people, according to the National League for Nursing, a nonprofit group that counts more than 1,100 nursing schools among its members." Read more here...

Aging Workforce News

In preparation for our June 23rd forum focused on the aging regional workforce, I've been knee deep in reports about the potential impact of retiring baby boomers. There's a lot of speculation about what this rather influential cohort is going to do to the economy. The Aging Workforce News blog has helped me keep track of the most recent reports and events on the topic. Check it out...

FL May Mandate Middle School Career Programs

Check out, "Career Plans by Age 12: Maybe in Florida." The title sounds scary, but the concept is right on track.

Super Wednesday

On Wednesday, May 10th, Enrico's Tazza D'Oro Cafe, the Union Project, the Urban League of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Human Capital Policy Initiative will welcome Mark Roosevelt, Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools to a community forum focused on the future of our schools. Please note that the date for this event recently changed. The forum will be held on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at the Union Project (801 N. Negley Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA) from 6:30-8:00 pm. (The event was previously scheduled for 5/4). Mark Roosevelt will be joined by community and educational leaders for this important discussion. Other speakers will include: Esther Bush (Urban League of Pittsburgh), Michael Johnson (Carnegie Mellon University), Vic Papale (A+ Schools), and Muzz Meyers (Westinghouse High School). Community input is essential to the discussion. Please join us for this very important conversation.

Paying for Career Planning

Now I understand the critical career planning article I mentioned in an earlier post. Apparently, the April 25th Washington Post included a piece about the rise in career counseling services for kids. The article highlights efforts by the Boys and Girls Club, College Recruiter and others. The story mentions some positive and negative points of career planning. However, it is an overwhelmingly positive story. The main critiques: career planning places too much stress on kids and kids need life skills ed, not career planning. Isn't finding and keeping a job an important life skill? I'm taking great pleasure in this increased attention to career planning. I'm even excited about the critical commentary. Who knew people are think about this enough to form an opinion? I'm no Pollyanna. The career counseling field has a great deal of variety in quality. (For an in-depth look at this, you must read Barbara Ehrenreich's book, Bait & Switch.) I'm also a little nervous about services that promote 10-year plans for teens. (See Career Choices website. Upon closer inspection, it's not nearly as scary as it sounds. They aren't asking kids to make a one time decision that will limit choices. They're aligning education and career interests. I think they have a marketing problem, not a product problem.) One of the themes of the article is that career planning is an emerging industry. There's an increased consumer interest and lots of emerging efforts to meet this market demand. This is good and bad news for consumers. More choices means more tough decisions. How do you choose wisely?

Anti-Career Planning Article

Today, the Post-Gazette ran a Washington Post article that slams career planning for kids. The author's argument is that kids should have a chance to explore, not get stressed out about having the right internship or identifying the perfect job. "Young people should be allowed to explore their interests for the sake of exploring their interests, not to get a head start in the working world. Teens should be able to choose paid jobs and volunteer work fairly casually, not for the impact these activities will have on their resumes. Yes, the working world is competitive these days, but that doesn't mean people benefit much if they start worrying about resumes and internships at 12 instead of 18." Ms. Slayter isn't describing career planning. Well... at least not GOOD career planning. She's describing "tracking." Here's the part of the article that really irritated me: "The truth is, most of us these days change our majors several times in college, change careers several times in our 20s, and change careers a few more times before we retire. It's completely routine for people to hit age 40, 50 or 60 and still not have found their professional niche, or to be in pursuit of a new one. No amount of planning and premature decision-making when you're still picking candy out of your braces can circumvent this process of self-discovery." Slayter is right. We will change careers. But this process isn't easy breezy for all Americans. For some, it's a very difficult and expensive process. This is why we need to build skills that allow people to grow in their careers throughout their life.

Kids@Work

Happy "Take Your Son or Daughter to Work" day!

Surprising Hiring Practices

How do you think a corporate recruiter finds people to fill positions? Are you envisioning a stack of resumes? A job fair? Most people assume that hiring managers select from a pool of people who are actually looking for a new job. However, companies are realizing that the best pool of candidates is already working. They may even be working in an entirely different field! Check out this NYTimes article about modern recruiting practices. San Franciso State management guru, Dr. John Sullivan contributes to the article. Sullivan has the best quote: "The first rule of recruiting is that the best people already have jobs they like... It's amazing that so many companies still use job fairs to recruit talent. Who goes to job fairs? People without jobs! All you get are worthless résumés and lots of germs." What's the alternative? According to this article: walking the aisles of chain stores and restaurants, buying merchandise, ordering meals nad keeping an eye out for stand-out employees is the best way to find true talent. Read more...

Discrimination or Standard Operating Procedure

Most of the HCPI blog postings have focused on tools to help build people's awareness of career resources. However, being aware of one's interests, strengths and aptitudes is clearly not enough to achieve "career success." All too often, other factors stand in our way. One of the most perverse barriers is that of racism. Pitt's Lu-in Wang has recently published, "Discrimination by Default: How Racism Becomes Routine." This book explores people's subtle, discriminatory behaviors. Here's a good post-gazette teaser about the book. This is such an important topic, but many people are afraid to engage in the conversation. Another great read on the topic: "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." (Thanks to one of my students for making me aware of this article!) In this article, Peggy McIntosh identifies the daily effects of white privilege. For example, one can arrange to be in the company of people of his/her own race most of the time, one can avoid spending time with people he/she has been trained to mistrust, one can be pretty sure of renting or owning a home in an affordable area, one can go shopping without being followed or harassed. The list is long and disturbing but sometimes discomfort leads to the most important conversations.

Smart Policy Workforce Blog

Yay! Some workforce blogging company out here in cyberland. Check out: http://wf-swpa.blogspot.com/. You can count on CED for thoughtful analysis of workforce issues.

Grey Matters

Although your own retirement may seem like a far off fantasy world, I've got news for you -- you'd better start thinking about how mass retirements could impact your future. Is your business (or organization) prepared for the aging of its workforce? (If you're in mining, coal, utilities, primary metals or ground transportation business; you'd better start thinking about it!) Understanding the implications of population dynamics is also essential for economic and workforce development professionals. For those investing in our region's economic competitiveness, retirements could seriously change the way they do business. Key questions to consider: Are there particular industries that will be particularly hard hit by retirements? Are businesses planning for a workforce shortage? Are employers restructuring their businesses to address future brain drain? Will this spell opportunity for younger workers or attempts to retain older employees? Finally, does the aging of our population present unique opportunities for economic development? So many questions... And now for some answers (or at least better questions)...The Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Economic Development has conducted a study on behalf of the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, "Managing the Changing Workforce in Southwestern Pennsylvania: A Closer Look at Issues Related to Our Region's Aging Workforce." This report explores the issue and examines how changing demographics may shape the future of the region. Read the report here. The Institute of Politics will conduct a series of events to promote dialogue and action on this topic. Our first event is a forum on June 23rd, "The Aging of the Workforce: Crisis or Opportunity." To receive an invite to the event, please contact me at vkl1@pitt.edu.

Best Jobs List

Money magazine has issued a list of the "best jobs." The ranking is based on growth, pay, stress level and other factors. Top five, in order: software engineer, college professor, financial adviser, human resources manager, and physician assistant. Whoever made the list obviously wasn't in the midst of grading papers. Read more...

Career Exploration Vacation

Summer doesn’t just mean pool parties and sleeping late. Encourage the young people you know to use their break from school to explore career options. Below are places to check out for expanding career vision and personal growth, both locally and globally. Camp Invention Camp Invention is a weeklong summer enrichment day program offered in local communities for children entering first through sixth grades. This exciting program invites children to let their imaginations run wild through teamwork, creative problem solving, and inventive thinking. Engineering and Technology Exploring Academy Westmoreland County Community College Career Prep Program and the Boy Scouts of America have partnered to bring a three day exploration cap to the Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood Campus for students who will be enrolled in grades 8-11 during the 2006-2007 school year. Contact Paula Rendine at 724-925-4268 or rendinep@wcc-pa.edu for more information and a registration packet. Manufacturing Career Exploration Program The Manufacturing Career Exploration Program will engage participating youth in activities that will demonstrate the diverse, high skill careers that exist in the manufacturing industry and provide participants with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate personal skills in communication, teamwork and problem solving. Summer in the City- Explore, Experiment, Experience, Point Park University From engineering to movie producing, students in middle in high school can explore a number of careers through Point Park’s Summer in the City programs. Women In Engineering MTM ’06 Camp- Penn State University High school girls who are entering 9th through 12th grades are eligible. Applicants should like science and math and should have the desire to learn more about engineering. YWCA of Westmoreland County Camps include Robo Labs and Creating a Video/Public Service Announcement. Council on International Educational Exchange Go abroad or share your home and your lifestyle with a CIEE international high school student. Rotary Youth Exchange Rotary Youth Exchange provides thousands of young people with the opportunity to meet people from other lands and to experience their cultures. Youth for Understanding Youth For Understanding (YFU) is a non-profit educational organization which offers opportunities for young people around the world to spend a summer, semester or year with a host family in another culture. Many opportunities are free or very low cost. And for the grown ups who are thinking about career exploration, check out Vocation Vacations. Special thanks to Anne McCafferty, Michelle DeLuca, and Terri Campbell for providing career exploration vacation information.

More Educated, but Still Losing Top Talent

The Education Policy and Leadership Center and The Learning Alliance for Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania have released a report, "A Rising Tide: The Current State of Higher Education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." The report boasts greater educational attainment in the commonwealth. Nonetheless, the gap between populations (by race and geography) persists. Another troubling finding -- Although Pennsylvania's colleges and universities are producing more technically skilled graduates (13,000 in 2004), a significant part of the growth was due to enrollment of out-of-state students. These students have less attachment to Pennsylvania and often return home or relocate where the best jobs are available. In short, we're exporting our most highly valued talent. Shame on us. Read the summary here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06108/682922-298.stm Big long report, here: http://www.thelearningalliance.info/

Rendell & O'Connor Recognize Human Capital Investments

Congratulations to the 2005-2006 People Do Matter award winners! The winners were announced at a highly-anticipated and sold out award ceremony on Wed., April 5, 2006. Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell delivered the event keynote and joined Pittsburgh mayor, Bob O'Connor and other regional leaders to recognize the achievements of the region's best companies. Be sure to give a special shout out to this year's winners: The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Pittsburgh Branch was recognized for increasing employee retention, building relationships and adaptive skills, and becoming an employer of choice through the creation of the "Welcome and Succeed Program." Kennametal won top honors in the Learning and Development category for overcoming changing market dynamics and new competitive challenges through the "Customer Acquisition Process" -- a learning and development strategy that built a stronger sales culture. Finally, the Human Resources Collaborative was recognized for building an innovative shared service model that both saved money and improved human resource services. Thanks to the many individuals and organizations that contributed to the event's success. Download a program book with detailed descriptions of all of this year's finalists.

Going Places

Very cool career exploration site from, of all things, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Who knew CPAs knew how to create career exploration games?

http://www.startheregoplaces.com

Discovering Drop Outs

This month's TIME magazine covers the hidden problem of high school drop out rates. While there's great debate about the numbers, many researchers believe that 33% of public high school graduates will drop out. The numbers are much worse for Latinos and African Americans who experience dropout rates approaching 50%. In some states, legislators are taking action. Credit recovery programs and alternative environments are popular solutions. Disincentives are also being used (e.g., taking away driving or work permit priviledges.) It's good to see mainstream coverage of this awful problem. High school dropouts fare horribly in today's economy. Employers want to see a diploma. Completing high school not only tells the employer that you have certain skills, it says that you're committed to completing something. The TIME story is interesting, but the really good stuff is in a related report by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, "The Silent Epidemic." Check out these factoids: Why do students drop out? * 47 percent of dropouts said classes weren't interesting * 43 percent had missed too many days of school and couldn't catch up * 38 percent said they had too much freedom and not enough rules in life * 35 percent said they quit because they were failing in school * 32 percent said they had to get a job and make money What are dropouts' experiences in high school? * 88 percent had passing grades, and 70 percent said they could have graduated if they had tried * 69 percent were not motivated to work hard; 66 percent would have worked harder if more had been demanded of them How do dropouts feel about their decision? * 81 percent said they now believe graduating from high school is important to success in life * 74 percent said if they were able to relive the experience, they would have stayed in school * 47 percent agreed it was hard to find a good job without a diploma What might have kept dropouts in school? * 81 percent called for more "real-world" learning opportunities * 75 percent wanted smaller classes with more individual instruction * 71 percent favored better communication between parents and schools and more involvement from parents I know I'm completely biased, but I think these kids are starving for career education and work experience programs. TIME article available here (if you subscribe): http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1181646,00.html Additional info available in a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation report, "The Silent Epidemic" http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Education/TransformingHighSchools/RelatedInfo/SilentEpidemic.htm

Good Economic News

As reported in the Christian Science Monitor, the latest US economic numbers show that businesses aren't just growing, they're growing good jobs. http://csmonitor.com/2006/0411/p01s02-usec.html

How Much Do You Need?

It's hard to discuss job salaries with kids when they have little understanding of basic monthly living expenses. (Truth be told, grown ups aren't much better.) David Mosey at Keys2Work recommended this online activity. It's fun, give it a try. http://www.learnmoreindiana.org/@students/students_ms/money/RealWorld.cgi

What Do You Tell Tomorrow's Teachers?

Ok... here's a question for you. A kid comes up to you and says, "I want to be a teacher. Will I be able to get a job?" What do you say? In the past year, I've heard confusing information about the market for primary and secondary school teachers in Pennsylvania. Our elementary, middle and high schools have many teachers who are nearing retirement age. But is that a problem when you live in a state with 93 schools that prepare primary and secondary school teachers? Will our supply of emerging workers meet the demands of our employers? The answer is yes and no. Labor supply and demand is not uniform across all teaching jobs. You can't replace a physics teacher with a spanish teacher. There are also geographic differences in demand. While teaching opportunities may be growing in suburban areas, they are likely to decline in some depopulating urban areas. Two interesting resources that discuss this challenge in more detail: 1. This Tribune Review article highlights the relative ease with which Hempfield High School is able to fill open positions. In fact, they rarely place a "help wanted" advertisement. However, certain teaching specialities (math, science, foreign language) are much harder to fill. http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/education/s_437165.html 2. The Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board has highlighted primary and secondary teaching opportunities in the "Promising Career Pathways" series. http://www.trwib.org/PCP/Teachers_text.htm So what would you tell a kid who wants to be a teacher?

Hot Date on April 28

Please consider joining me at the Mon Valley Education Consortium's "Designing Our Destiny" event on Friday, April 28th at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center from 5:30-7:30 pm. The event highlights the Consortium's student career exploration program, "The Future is Mine." This celebration will give you the chance to see how students learn about the world of work. I think you'll be impressed by the creativity, energy and determination of the students. Let's face it, career development activities are few and far between in our school system. This is a great opportunity to show that you think it's important to prepare kids for the world of work. The exhibit hall format also gives you the chance to learn at your own pace. (This means you won't be stuck sitting through a long program!) Reservations are necessary. RSVP by Wednesday, April 19, to the Consortium office at 412-678-9215.

Gaming ROI

Skill development via video game. Interesting. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.04/learn.html

Too Many Skilled Workers?

There's a new book on my reading list, "The Disposable American: Layoffs and Their Consequences" by Louis Uchitelle. The NYTimes had a thought provoking article about the topic in yestersday's paper. The sad story is that despite our best efforts to retrain laid off workers, sometimes it's nearly impossible to find new careers with comparable benefits and wages. While there are many good points in the article, there were a few points that seemed oversimplified and misleading. 1. The author suggests that US employment policy is overly education and training-focused. This may have been the case under JTPA, but under WIA standards there is a much stronger effort to place people in jobs. We don't simply train people for positions because they want to go to training. There's a much stronger effort to train people for in-demand jobs. 2. "We have an oversupply of skilled people." This is a gross oversimplification of the labor market. People aren't widgets. Their skills take a while to be developed and refined. The real story is that we do a bad job predicting the skills and training that our economy needs. Look at the healthcare occupations that are begging for workers. Moreover, we have significant geographical challenges. Consider the issue of preparing enough educators. Pennsylvania has more than enough, yet other states do a lousy job preparing and finding educators. 3. "Rather than having a shortage of skills, millions of American workers have more skills than their jobs require. That is particularly true of college-educated people, who make up 30 percent of the population today, up from 10 percent in the 1960's. They often find themselves working in sales or as office administrators, or taking jobs in hotels and restaurants, or becoming carpenters, flight attendants and word processors." Yes, the author is correct that college is no guarantee of employment success. However, it's important to remember that usually our first or second job after college is a stepping stone. The labor market is fluid. And by the way, what's wrong with a college grad working in sales? I'd better not continue, there's smoke coming out of my ears. Other comments/thoughts about the article are welcome.

Women in Higher Ed.: Too Many or Not Enough?

Today I came across two interesting articles about women and higher education. The first story was published in the NYTimes. An admissions officer shares her frustration with the unintended consequences of women's liberation -- women’s increased interest (and achievement) is creating a much higher university standard for women than for men. Apparently campuses are concerned with preserving “gender equity.” As a result, many well qualified girls are being placed on the waitlist while boys with comparable grades and achievement are accepted. Just minutes after I read this article, I stumbled across an article in the National Journal about the need to increase women's pursuit of math and science degrees. In fact, Bush Administration officials are considering how they might extend Title IX law (aimed at college athletic programs) to improve gender equity in research university science departments. Although women’s pursuit of science degrees has increased, men still lead in computer science and engineering by 3-to-1 and 4-to-1, respectively.

Career Exploration -- Not Just for Kids

Kids aren't the only ones looking for career guidance. As baby boomers hit retirement ages, many are opting to stay in the workforce. For those seeking a retirement job, AARP has a few suggestions: http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourlife/0905_sidebar_2.html

Fun and Games

I came across this list of old fashioned job titles and thought they were worth sharing. (I like to use this as a trivia game when presenting to student audiences.) Do you know what these people did for a living? Town husband, tinkerer, ratoner, streaker, skinker, loblolly boy, honeydipper, hello girl, bookman? A town husband was employed by the parish to collect money from fathers of illegitimate children for their upkeep. A tinkerer was a traveling repairman. A streaker prepared bodies for burial. A skinker was a tapster in an ale house. A ratoner was a rat catcher. A loblolly boy was a ship's doctor's assistant or errand boy. A honey dipper extracted raw sewage from out-houses. A hello girl was a telephone employee in the early 1900s. Finally, a bookman was a student. Doesn't this make you love your job?

Work Hard, Earn Less

If you ever doubted the brutality of the labor market, take a look at articles in yesterday’s New York Times or today’s Christian Science Monitor.

Yesterday the Times reported on the changing job promise at Caterpillar. While employees once saw generous wages and benefits in exchange for their long term job tenure and commitment to the organization, the younger workforce has a strikingly different offer -- less wages, paying more for benefits and poor job stability. On the bright side, Caterpillar is working with the community college to enable workers to gain new skills and prepare for other types of work. Just think -- this is what's happening at a PROFITABLE company!

Today's Christian Science Monitor also looks at the struggle of younger workers. On many measures, younger workers are falling behind. Median incomes are falling for younger households, education costs are rising dramatically -- leaving younger workers with high student loan and credit card debts, and rising healthcare costs are being shifted to the new workforce.

I wish these stories went a little farther talking about who will succeed in the labor market. The Monitor alludes to the fact that people with skills demanded by employers and/or a commitment to lifelong learning will fare better in the labor market.

This is why we need HCPI speakers to get into the community and provoke thought and action with regard to career education and workforce development. Talking about what's wrong with the labor market only gets you so far. We've got to give people the tools to succeed.

Finally, I should mention that I wanted to also recommend an article by Paul Krugman about rising economic inequality. Ironically, though, you can only view the article online if you pay for/subscribe to NYTimes Select. Once again, the poor get imperfect market information.

HCPI Reception

It was great to see so many HCPI speakers at our reception on February 16th. Your energy and enthusiasm continues to inspire me!

Secrets of College Success

The Washington Post recently explored the secrets of college graduation success. For once, there's good news -- a recent study by the US Department of Labor shows that more students are obtaining their college degree (66% of the students tracked completed their degree -- up from 60% in the previous study.) The study also reported that students taking more intensive classes are more likely to graduate. (Was that really a surprise?) There are lots of good tidbits for those of you interested in learning more about college persistence, achievement and outcomes. I like the recommendations at the end of the Post article. (I've paraphrased.) 1. Just because you say you will continue your education after high school and earn a college credential doesn't make it happen. Wishing doesn't do it; preparation does. 2. Take the challenging course work in high school, and don't let anyone scare you away from it. If you cannot find the challenge in the school's offerings, find it online. 3. Read like crazy! Expand your language space! Don't waste precious credit hours on remedial courses in higher education. 4. The world has gone quantitative. A full range of disciplines and job tasks tells you why math requirements are not just some abstract school exercise. 5. Log on to college and community college Web sites pay attention to what to what they show you -- the assignments and examination questions given in major gateway courses you will probably take. If you do not see these indications of what to expect, push! 6. See if your nearest community college has a dual-enrollment agreement with your school system, allowing you to take significant general education or introductory occupational courses for credit while you are still in high school. 7. You are ultimately responsible for success in education. You are the principal actor. The power is yours. Seize the day -- or lose it!"

Are We Measuring What Matters?

Do traditional economic measures work in a knowledge economy? This Business Week article argues that they do not. In fact, many knowledge building investments are simply not measured. For example, in the olden days companies spent a lot of money to train people. (You had to fly people to a training facility, hire instructors, pay overhead, etc.) Now you can take classes online. "At IBM, the training budget fell by $10 million from 2003 to 2004, a 1.4% decline, while the number of classroom and e-learning hours rose by 29%." As it stands, traditional economic measures fail to capture these types of productivity improvements. Another interesting calculation -- the ROI of immigration. If immigrants come to the US already educated, they are adding to the economic value of the nation. "Most of the workers who immigrate to the U.S. each year have at least a high school diploma, while about a third have a college education or better. Since it costs, on average, roughly $100,000 to provide 12 years of elementary and secondary education, and another $100,000 to pay for a college degree, immigrants are providing a subsidy of at least $50 billion annually to the U.S. economy in free human capital. Alternatively, valuing their contribution to the economy by the total wages they expect to earn during their lifetime would put the value of the human capital of new immigrants closer to $200 billion per year." Read more...

Engineering Dream Jobs

This special issue of IEEE Spectrum tells you all about the coolest engineering jobs. I have to say -- they're way cool. Martin Cooper uses lasers to restore priceless works of art. Grant Imahara builds that weird stuff you see on the Discovery Channel show -- MythBusters. And this guy tracks wild animals. The core message -- do something you love, be tenacious and flexible. And look out for the rhinos.

The Power of Belief

Today I stumbled across an MDRC school reform evaluation that explores the relationship between student engagement and perceived academic competence on achievement in reading and mathematics. The findings suggest that engagement in school and students’ perception of their own academic competence influence achievement in mathematics. So remember those cool teachers you had who acted like you might actually amount to something? Those are the folks who are key to student development. "The earlier schools and teachers begin to build students’ confidence in their ability to do well, the better off students will be. Teachers whom students see as supportive and who set clear expectations about behavior help create an atmosphere in which students feel in control and confident about their ability to succeed in future educational endeavors." Read more...

The Grit Factor

Penn researcher, Angela Lee Duckworth tells us that intellectual superstars aren't successful just because they're smart -- it's because they've got "grit" or persistence. In a study of West Point freshman cadets, Duckworth found that grit predicted successful completion of their summer training program. Grit beat out high school class rank, SAT scores, athletic achievement, community leadership experience and faculty appraisals. Can we teach grit or is success limited to obsessive compulsives? Duckworth and other researchers suggest that it's time to teach persistence and help kids understand how to overcome obstacles. Another strong suggestion is to the parents. "The most important thing parents can do to help kids succeed is to guide them in finding whatever it is they can love over the long haul." Read more...

Sunday TV: People Do Matter

This Sunday, Jon Delano aired a segment about the "People Do Matter" initiative. People Do Matter recognizes companies for outstanding accomplishments in human resources, training and organizational development. View the video clip here... Learn more about PDM (nominate an organization!) here...

Tough School-to-Work Question

"How can you have a successful school-to-work program if there's not enough room in the curriculum for kids to earn any real technical certification?" Jay Matthews poses this and other tough questions for Chris Peters, who coordinates Advancement via Individual Determination, at Cajon High School in San Bernadino, Calif. Read more here...

About the Region

Usually I try to post information about career education and workforce development but I just have to say a few words about my favorite blog -- http://pittsblog.blogspot.com/. While I don't always agree with his conclusions, Mike Madison does a great job exploring issues of regional concern. It's refreshing to see someone challenge popular points of view without just being a nay-sayer. Check it out...

College Illiteracy

It's no secret that most Americans believe that obtaining a college degree is a key to success. Here at HCPI we often shock people by reporting on how few students graduate in 6 years (about 50%). Now there's more upsetting news -- many students at college lack complex literacy skills. The study reports that more than half of students at four-year schools and more than 3/4 of students at two year schools "lack the skills to perform complex literacy tasks." This means that our college kids can't comprehend a newspaper editorial or compare credit card offers. Read more online...

Jobs You Can't Do Without

This article from workforce.com discusses the value of identifying positions that directly produce revenue, reach customers or encompass skills. The identification of these positions can help a company differentiate itself from rivals and better allocate resources. Here in SWPA, some forward-thinking organizations are already working hard to identify pivotal talent.