There's hope for American workers

By ELAINE L. CHAO
KNIGHT RIDDER/TRIBUNE
Many commentators missed an important piece of economic news last week. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its biennial projections of job growth for the coming decade, which show a promising future for the American worker.
According to BLS, hardly known for irrational exuberance, job growth in industries like information technology, health care and construction is projected to expand so rapidly that employers could have a hard time finding skilled workers. The demand for computer software engineers, for example, is expected to grow by nearly 50 percent, while the demand for medical assistants is projected to grow by nearly 60 percent.
Not only are these occupations growing quickly, but they are good jobs as well. For example, half of the fastest growing occupations, including physicians assistants, physical therapists and computer software engineers, are also in the top 25 percent of highest-paying jobs. However, all of these fast-growing, high-paying jobs require at least a bachelor's or associate degree.
Opportunities
That's why President Bush proposed a $500 million "Jobs for the 21st Century" initiative in his January State of the Union message to help workers get the training and education they need to take advantage of these opportunities. A skilled workforce will allow employers to fuel the growth in their businesses over the coming decade.
One of the most important components of the president's plan is $250 million dedicated to creating a closer link between employers, the nation's publicly funded workforce development system and educational institutions, particularly community colleges.
How would this linkage work? Employers would define the knowledge and skill sets needed for jobs in high-growth occupations. Community colleges would then develop the necessary training curricula. And the public workforce system would help workers connect with this system and find jobs at the conclusion of their training.
Community colleges are at the heart of this program because they are easily accessible to almost all Americans -- with more than 1,000 campuses nationwide. Moreover, they are also extremely adaptable; able to design courses to meet the need for real-world training while scheduling night and weekend classes to meet the needs of working parents.
Career centers
The evolving partnerships would build on, not replace, the excellent work done by the nation's network of One Stop Career Centers. These centers offer an array of services to dislocated workers, to which the administration devotes $15 billion a year in employment and training services. Indeed, by creating links with community colleges, we would not only help workers find jobs today but prepare them for rewarding long-term careers in high-growth occupations.
As secretary of labor, I have seen firsthand how much programs like these can mean to American workers. For example, I recently met a single mother in Maine who had difficulty making ends meet while working odd jobs. She took advantage of a number of Department of Labor programs that enabled her to take certified nursing courses at Husson College, her local community college. Thanks to our program, she was able to join the booming health-care industry as a nursing manager for a local rehabilitation center.
Her courage and determination to better herself are examples of the characteristics that make our workforce -- and our nation -- so strong: our courage and our willingness to confront challenges head on.
President Bush's economic policies -- in particular tax relief -- have empowered American workers to confront the challenges of a recession, the attacks of Sept. 11, the war against terrorism and corporate malfeasance. And once again, the American worker and American economy are prevailing.
We are seeing increasing signs of growth in the labor market, including five straight months of job creation. These gains, as well as the employment projections from BLS, demonstrate a promising future for the American worker. President Bush's Jobs for the 21st Century Initiative will ensure that, as new employment opportunities emerge, no American worker is left behind.
XElaine L. Chao is secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.