BUILDING A COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE

'Jobs of Tomorrow' Report
A new report from the president's Council of Economic Advisers, "Preparing the Workforce of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow," concludes that job growth will be greatest in health care and jobs that require a post-secondary education between now and 2016. How do we prepare for a more skills-based economy? The report asserts that "the most important 'post-high school' education and training reform is a strong early childhood and elementary and secondary system," reports the NY Times.

'Mind the Gap' in Achievement
Declining high school and college graduation rates among U.S. workers threaten our ability to compete in the global economy, according to the Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education. One example: the U.S. ranks second in the percentage of workers 55 and older with a postsecondary credential, but drops to 11th for younger workers with a postsecondary degree. The Commission recommends closing the achievement gap among low-income students by providing voluntary preschool education to all children from low-income families so that they enter school ready to learn.

A Little Flexibility, Please
Flexible work options for hourly employees are an important management tool that can enhance recruitment, retention, engagement, cost control, productivity and financial performance according to a new study. Innovative Workplace Flexibility Options for Hourly Workers includes a look at the child care workforce, for whom flexible work options represent an important strategy to help recruit and retain dedicated professionals.

Where Working Parents Thrive
SmartMoney magazine's 10 Best Places to Be a Working Mom selected top states based on national rankings for child care quality, the percentage of women in professional or managerial jobs, the availability of child-related tax benefits and workplace flexibility. Read the article online to see which states made the cut.

Obama Highlights Education at U.S. Hispanic Chamber
In a speech to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, President Obama laid out his plans for education, saying that when "jobs can be shipped wherever there's an Internet connection," education - beginning with early childhood programs - is a prerequisite for success. He praised the $5 billion included in the economic stimulus package for Early Head Start and Head Start and called for states to raise the quality of early learning programs that fall short.

U.S. Lags Developed Countries in Early Care and Education
A new UNICEF report comparing early childhood education in 25 developed countries found that the U.S. meets only three of the 10 benchmarks used. The U.S. is near the bottom for access to paid parental leave, one reason for its high percentage of 0-3 year-olds in child care.

Science Gains Overdue
U.S. fourth- and eighth-graders' math and science test scores have plateaud since the mid-1990s, below those of many of our economic competitors and causing concern about how well-prepared students will be to compete in a global economy. On the Obama education agenda: working with states to improve science education, beginning in preschool.

Manufacturing Jobs Depend on Education
Citing a serious shortage of qualified employees, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) says, "Excellence in education and educational opportunities for all is the best guarantee of meeting the demands of the global economy. NAM believes in a strong system of high quality early learning, elementary, secondary, higher education, and career and technical education that effectively prepares students for the challenges of the 21st century global workforce."

Strong Pre-K Foundation Builds Competitiveness
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce notes that although 90 percent of the fastest-growing jobs in America require at least two years of postsecondary education, one-third of U.S. students do not finish high school. The Chamber has made early childhood programs a 2008 policy priority, saying that early childhood and pre-K activities are the foundation for a competitive workforce.