Training the next generation of workers

Washington Post,December 14, 2009 Page B6:

The Brazil steps in to educate future workforce of engineers and technians, should be a wake-up call for the United States. Ira Raskin of Bethesda wrote to the editor.

I wish to add that economists are needed as planners to look ahead for the future of the work force in America.

Demographic changes are underway in USA that will reduce the number of educated workers younger than 65. Even if we keep extending the retirement age or see a major influx of human capital from other countries, a younger, smaller and less educated US workforce is likely to be hard-pressed to maintain the productivity required to pay for the health and pension needs of a larger number of retiresss. Significant investment will be needed to upgrade the workforce's skills in the years to come.

Such rationale is the same as in the previous blogs apropos of American labor force. "The Future of Community Colleges" published by the Congrssional Record,July 18, 1974 is envisioned by such shortage of skilled workers in the 21st century.

Francis Shieh a.k.a. Xie Shihao sees the same dire needs of para-professionals in China as I sent my prior blogs re such desiderata. December 14, 2008 at 2.33 p.m.