Sunday, March 12, 2006
We have a education system that seriously underperforms. We're producing far too many people with few skills needed by technically sophisticated, growth-oriented companies.
At the same time, we have a popular misunderstanding of how manufacturing has evolved in this country. Manufacturing jobs are no longer dull, dirty and dangerous. They represent high skilled, high-paying occupations.
This story in Minnesota can be repeated in many of the states of the Great Lakes. While manufacturers of laid off low skilled workers, they're having difficulty attracting and finding technically oriented workers. Read more.
This problem will only get worse as the Baby Boom generation retires.
In Wisconsin, state work force, officials are trying to address this strategy this challenge with a career letter strategy. Read more.
In Northwest Indiana, the focus is on developing alternatives to college. Read more.
posted by Ed Morrison |
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Some Background on EDPro Weblog
The purpose of this weblog is to help economic development professionals -- EDPros -- keep up with the changes sweeping our profession. Strap on your goggles. It's a whole new game. There are no experts any more. The only place to learn about economic development is from other EDPros who are doing it.
One other point: the prevaling approach (paradigm, if you like) in economic development is shifting from competition to collaboration. There are a lot of reaasons underlying this shift, but here's the important insight: You, your community, and your region will do better by collaborating and sharing information.
If you are using a news reader, here is the link to syndicate this site:
Here's the link if you are a bloglines subscriber:
Speaking and workshops on Open Source Economic Development
As the idea of Open Source Economic Development starts spreading, more people are asking about it. Visit the I-Open web site to learn more. My colleagues and I are happy to explain the basic concepts in a talk or a workshop. E-mail Susan Alshuler if you'd like to learn more about workshops and speaking.
Background on Ed Morrison
Download some background information on me here.
Problems finding manufacturing workers
