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OPA News Release: [08/16/2006]
Contact Name: David James
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Release Number: 06-1452-CHI
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Urges Labor-Management Leaders to Work Together to Keep American Workers Competitive
Economic Security Demands Skilled Workforce
CHICAGO — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today alerted labor, business and academic leaders attending the 13th National Labor-Management Conference to the need for labor and management to work together to keep America's workforce competitive in the 21st century worldwide economy.
"In the 21st century workforce, it is more important than ever for labor and management to work together," said Secretary Chao. "Our future competitiveness rests on the strength and skills of our workforce. If we fail to make the investments necessary to sustain a competitive workforce, our nation's economic security will suffer."
The labor secretary discussed recent initiatives which are being advanced to help American workers remain competitive, including the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative and Community Based Job Training Initiative, which expands the capacity of community and technical colleges to train workers in the skills required for growing industries. The department has awarded $125 million to 70 community college partnerships under this program. A second $125 million grant competition is underway.
"These initiatives rely on partnerships between employers, labor organizations, education providers, public and non-profit institutions and others to help workers access higher education and skills training," said Secretary Chao.
Secretary Chao also highlighted the Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development program and American Competitiveness Initiative which pledges $136 billion over the next decade to help ensure that the U.S. economy continues to generate high quality jobs as well as train the workforce to fill them. Secretary Chao expressed concern over the skills gap that could make it difficult to fill demand for highly trained workers in the decades ahead.
"Our nation is part of an increasingly worldwide economy. Some countries are in a race to the bottom, competing fiercely to secure the lowest skilled, lowest paid jobs for their citizens," said Secretary Chao. "That is not where our country's economic future lies. We want to attract and create the highest skilled, highest paid jobs in the world for America's workers. But to realize this goal, we must ensure that our nation's workers remain among the most productive and skilled in the world."
"America is transitioning to a knowledge-based economy, creating millions of new jobs in industries that did not exist a generation ago and which demand highly educated and skilled workers," Secretary Chao continued. "Two-thirds of the estimated 18 million new jobs that will be created in the next ten years will be occupations that require some kind of higher education -- a four-year degree, community college or a specialized apprenticeship training program."
The national conference is sponsored by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an independent agency created in 1947 whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with two regional offices and more than 70 field offices, the agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies and communities.
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