Occupational Training

Postsecondary Education
commentary
If College Isn't the Pathway to the Middle Class It Once Was—What Is?
Lindsay Daugherty
Apr 5, 2022
Fortune
Is college still the best path to the middle class? It's complicated. College credentials still do lead many to increased earnings, but the rapid increases in college costs, coupled with a strong labor market, have made the payoff for a college degree no longer a sure thing.
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Workforce Development
essay
The Digital Skills Gap: What Workers Need for the Jobs of the Future
Mar 1, 2022
Business leaders have warned for years that what they see on job applications does not match what they need in new employees. There are not enough workers with the right digital skills. And as the world economy struggles to its feet after COVID-19, that skills gap threatens to keep pushing it down.
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Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy
commentary
The Bright Appeal of New Tech May Overshadow Practical Business
Timothy Marler
Aug 24, 2021
Inside Sources
Law enforcement departments are increasingly considering using augmented reality and virtual reality for training. How can the AR/VR industry be incentivized to ensure that content responds to user needs and is accessible?
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Workforce Development
commentary
Job Training Is More Effective When Educators, Government, and Industry Work Together
Matthew D. Baird, Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson
Jul 6, 2021
The RAND Blog
The United States is facing economic gaps wider than have been seen in a century. To keep the nation economically strong and able to provide citizens with middle-class lifestyles, educators, government, and private industry need to work together to shape training opportunities.
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Workforce Development
essay
Education and Employment Should Be One System, Not Two
Jan 7, 2020
Too many American workers aren't getting the education and training they need to compete in the 21st century. We need to revamp the entire system of educating and employing people. And that system needs to ensure equitable access to opportunities and lifelong learning.
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Workplace Violence
commentary
Is Training for NHS Staff to Manage Workplace Violence Effective?
Brandi Leach, Michael Whitmore
Sep 4, 2019
Nursing Times
Going to work should not mean being subjected to physical or verbal assault, but this is the reality faced by thousands of frontline NHS staff. De-escalation training may help staff manage patient violence and aggression, but there is not enough research about what works in specific healthcare contexts.
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Refugees
commentary
Jobs Can Improve the Lives of Syrian Refugees and Their Host Communities—and Support Stability in the Middle East
Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson, Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_
Mar 11, 2019
Foreign Policy
Host governments, international development agencies, and donor countries like the United States could take several steps to improve Syrian refugee employment. This would increase self-reliance among Syrian refugees and ease pressures on host communities.
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Counterterrorism
blog
Syrian Workers, Iranian Spies, Jihadi Brides: RAND Weekly Recap
Feb 22, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on jobs for Syrian refugees, Iran's efforts to spy on the United States, the complicated cases of jihadi brides, and more.
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Refugees
commentary
As Refugees, Syrian Women Find Liberation in Working
Louay Constant, Shanthi Nataraj, Fadia Afashe
Feb 19, 2019
United Press International
Syrian refugee women in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan want opportunities to work. But there are multiple barriers and challenges that limit them. Improving the chances of safe and dignified work opportunities for Syrian women in these countries could yield broad positive social benefits for both the refugee and host communities.
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Refugees
commentary
Syrian Skills: A Missed Opportunity
Shanthi Nataraj, Louay Constant
Feb 14, 2019
RealClearWorld
Syrian refugees in Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon are finding ways to get by. But many refugees are not able to fully use their skills, and that is a lost opportunity both for the Syrians and the host countries.
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Health and Wellness Promotion
blog
Military Spouses, Exercise Incentives, Libraries: RAND Weekly Recap
Nov 30, 2018
This weekly recap focuses on a scholarship program for military spouses, a wellness program that uses the Apple Watch, how libraries can improve public health, and more.
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Occupational Training
essay
Appalachia Partnership Helps Both Workers and Employers in a Changing Market
Aug 30, 2018
An innovative program in Appalachia is realigning the skills of the workforce with the needs of employers, getting people back on the job and providing a 21st-century model of workforce development.
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Postsecondary Education
commentary
Community Colleges Can Be 'First Responders' in Retraining Displaced Workers
Lindsay Daugherty
Feb 16, 2017
The Hill
Many of the occupations with the most opportunities require two-year degrees or certificates. Community colleges play a key role in training students for these jobs and offer a supportive environment for displaced and dissatisfied workers.
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commentary
Carrier Deal Does Not Carry the Day for American Workers
Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_, Lynn A. Karoly
Dec 21, 2016
United Press International
Despite the good intentions, pressuring companies like Carrier to keep jobs in the U.S. addresses only the smaller part of the problem, globalization, not the larger one, technological change. A long term solution would be to upgrade the education and training system so that students graduate with skills for life-long learning.
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commentary
America's Shifting Labor Market in a Technology-Driven World
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Nov 25, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
Making America competitive in a transitioning market will require examining future labor market requirements. Workforce development programs that target building labor capacity for a new economy will be essential.
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Technical Professions
commentary
Back to Work: Middle-Skill Jobs in the STEM Economy
Gabriella C. Gonzalez, Robert Bozick
Aug 24, 2016
The RAND Blog
The STEM economy will grow by 17 percent through 2018, with expected job vacancies totaling 2.4 million. Middle-skill STEM jobs—such as computer support specialists, web developers, and engineering technicians—are in the highest demand.
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commentary
Young Workers Without College Degrees Face Uncomfortable Truths
Diana Gehlhaus
Jun 23, 2016
The Hill
Young Americans without a college education suffer from high unemployment, low earnings, and delayed adulthood with a limited ability to buy a home. To help them, policymakers need to remind themselves that workforce training and labor policy must focus on the technology-driven jobs of tomorrow.
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Vocational Education
commentary
Building a Sound Technical and Vocational Education and Training System
Louay Constant, Cathy Stasz, Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson, Georges Vernez
Dec 31, 2014
EduTech Magazine
Technical and vocational education and training in India has expanded significantly over the past two decades. But quality and relevance remain significant issues. What may be learned from other countries' experiences?
Read More »
commentary
Change Choices, Not Conversation
Melissa Flournoy
Aug 24, 2008
Monroe (LA) News Star
Too often we talk only about the ongoing challenges facing education, health care, transportation and economic development across the Gulf South — Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.... We need to determine new ways to work together across state lines to focus on solutions that will benefit the entire region, writes Melissa Flournoy.
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Quoted

The strength of NATO is that it is at its essence an ongoing consultation based on trust, and where needed a central meeting point for smaller groups of allies to collaborate on an issue-by-issue basis. Finland and Sweden could benefit by working from the outset to advance the dialogue, express their interests, and help to shape what can be a stronger, smarter NATO.

Gene Germanovich

International Defense Researcher

Source: United Press International

The world is two-and-a-half years into COVID-19, facing another international and national emerging infectious disease outbreak with monkey pox, and experts have warned that such diseases are only becoming more likely. A serious reckoning beginning with a 9/11-like commission for COVID-19 could be undertaken to develop a system for preparing for and responding to emerging infectious diseases. Relying on “ad hoc-ery” may not be the best option.

Daniel M. Gerstein

Senior Policy Researcher

Source: The Hill

North Korean Sanctions Evasion

Hypothetical Scenarios of U.S.-China Conflict

Learning, Relearning, and Not Learning the Lessons of COVID-19

Finnish and Swedish NATO Membership: Toward a Larger, Stronger, Smarter Alliance

Three Steps to Protect Communities from Climate Change

The Policy Currents Podcast

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Occupational Training

If College Isn't the Pathway to the Middle Class It Once Was—What Is?

The Digital Skills Gap: What Workers Need for the Jobs of the Future

The Bright Appeal of New Tech May Overshadow Practical Business

Job Training Is More Effective When Educators, Government, and Industry Work Together

Education and Employment Should Be One System, Not Two

Is Training for NHS Staff to Manage Workplace Violence Effective?

Jobs Can Improve the Lives of Syrian Refugees and Their Host Communities—and Support Stability in the Middle East

Syrian Workers, Iranian Spies, Jihadi Brides: RAND Weekly Recap

As Refugees, Syrian Women Find Liberation in Working

Syrian Skills: A Missed Opportunity

Military Spouses, Exercise Incentives, Libraries: RAND Weekly Recap

Appalachia Partnership Helps Both Workers and Employers in a Changing Market

Community Colleges Can Be 'First Responders' in Retraining Displaced Workers

Carrier Deal Does Not Carry the Day for American Workers

America's Shifting Labor Market in a Technology-Driven World

Back to Work: Middle-Skill Jobs in the STEM Economy

Young Workers Without College Degrees Face Uncomfortable Truths

Building a Sound Technical and Vocational Education and Training System

Change Choices, Not Conversation

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