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Workforce and Workplace

RAND research on workforce and workplace issues includes labor markets, the effect of new technologies, workers' compensation and disability, occupational safety, immigration, workforce trends in education, and military recruitment and retention. View all Workforce and Workplace Documents Available Online or find general information at Reports and Bookstore.

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For 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, Retirement Revisions Recommended — Nov. 13, 2008

As military compensation is a fundamental tool for recruiting and retaining an all-volunteer force, it is reviewed every four years to make sure it can meet the U.S. military's objectives. This research examines the value and effectiveness of the current retirement system and possible alternatives, drawing on military personnel career data.

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Four Countries in the Middle East Face the Human Capital Challenges of the 21st Century — Oct. 31, 2008

Education and labor market initiatives are under way in four Arab nations -- Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates -- to address the challenges of developing the human capital of their populations for the 21st century global economy, though better evaluation of the implemented reforms will be needed to determine their efficacy.

Full DocumentResearch Brief: English VersionResearch Brief: Arabic Version

More »Featured Project

Diversity Management Project Will Collect Data to Better Assess Workforce Policy — Oct. 13, 2008

A new RAND Labor and Population Project will examine how best to achieve and harness workplace diversity, a growing priority for U.S. companies and government agencies who want their workforces to reflect the evolving racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and generational makeup of American society and meet the challenges of the global market place.

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View All »Related News & Commentary

November 12, 2008: U.S. Department of Defense Faces Obstacles in Meeting Small-Business Contract Goals

October 2, 2008: Comprehensive Study on Traffic Congestion in Urban Los Angeles Suggests Ways to Improve Traffic

September 24, 2008: Strategies Suggested to Address San Diego Police Officer Recruiting Shortage

August 24, 2008: Change Choices, Not Conversation, By Melissa Flournoy (Monroe (LA) News Star)

July 9, 2008: U.S. Science is Holding its Own: Despite Cries of Alarm, We Remain the Global Leader in Innovation, By Titus Galama, James Hosek (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

View All »Featured Reports

Protecting Emergency Responders, Volume 4: Personal Protective Equipment Guidelines for Structural Collapse Events This monograph serves as a technical source for National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) incident commander guidelines for emergency response immediately following large structural collapse events. It gives guidelines for personal protective equipment (PPE), focusing on required modifications to responders' typical PPE ensembles because of the duration of response and the need to prevent exposures to likely hazards from pathogens, airborne dusts, and gaseous hazardous materials.  Full Document

The 21st Century at Work: Forces Shaping the Future Workforce and Workplace in the United States What are the forces that will continue to shape the U.S. workforce and workplace over the next 10 to 15 years? With its eye on forming sound policy and helping stakeholders in the private and public sectors make informed decisions, the U.S. Department of Labor asked RAND to look at the future of work. The authors analyze trends in and the implications of shifting demographic patterns, the pace of technological change, and the path of economic globalization. Full Document