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Report

Life as an Army Private: Six Soldiers Tell Their Stories

In their own words, six junior soldiers describe why they joined the U.S. Army, their joys and frustrations, and what they hope the future brings. These stories offer lessons for policymakers, Army leaders and recruiters, and anyone considering a career in the Army.

Mar 6, 2019
Commentary

Economic Officers for the Future

Economic officers must be, first of all, accomplished political officers. They should also have all the reporting, public speaking, and representational skills of any political or public diplomacy officer, coupled with a strong understanding of economic issues.

Jan 7, 2019
Report

Report

Skills demand in the Cambridge area: Attracting and retaining skills

RAND Europe conducted a study examining the evidence on skills shortages in the labour pool of the Cambridge region to help inform policy discussion about developing skills at a local level.

Oct 23, 2018
Report

Who Joins the Army, and Why?

The U.S. Army wants to improve its understanding of soldiers' motivations to enlist, and how the reality of Army life matches up with expectations. Interviews with soldiers ranked E-1 to E-4 offer a rich portrayal of life as a private.

May 14, 2018
Research Brief

The Uphill Climb: Women and Some Minorities Encounter Disparities in STEM Occupations, Even with Post-Secondary Education

This brief explores the role that postsecondary education plays in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce, finding that women and some minorities are less likely to earn these degrees and to enter STEM employment.

Dec 8, 2017
Report

Postsecondary Education and STEM Employment in the United States: An Analysis of National Trends with a Focus on the Natural Gas and Oil Industry

This report aims to contribute new knowledge to understanding the role that postsecondary education plays in meeting the increasing demands of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce.

Dec 6, 2017
Commentary

Keeping Americans on the Job in a Changing Economy

Despite calls to bring back U.S. coal mines and factories, the real issue isn't a lack of family-sustaining jobs, it's a mismatch between workers and available jobs.

Oct 20, 2017
Commentary

California's Tourism Industry: A Launching Pad for New Careers

Travel and tourism jobs in California often serve as an entry point for those outside the paid labor force. Nearly 55 percent leave the industry within a few years, some of whom move to another industry but keep the same occupation. Others change occupations as they change industries.

Jun 29, 2017
Report

The Effects of Travel and Tourism on California's Economy

California's travel and tourism industry employs a diverse workforce that makes a meaningful contribution to the state's economy. For some, the industry offers a stable career path with good wages and wage growth. For others, it's a launching point into other industries.

Jun 27, 2017
Research Brief

Research Brief

Improving Employment Prospects for Soldiers Leaving the Regular Army

Discusses the results of a new approach to develop an improved crosswalk between Army military occupational specialties (MOSs) and civilian occupations, highlighting ten of the Army's most populous combat and noncombat MOSs.

Jan 23, 2017
Report

Helping Soldiers Use Army Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities in Civilian Jobs

Some veterans struggle to find jobs after they leave the Army. To help, the Army could share a broader range of higher-quality military-civilian job matches with both veterans and employers.

Jan 23, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

High School Drug Use Predicts Job-Related Outcomes at Age 29

Examines the relationship between hard drug use in high school and occupational and job quality outcomes measured at approximately age 29.

Jul 28, 2016
Journal Article

Journal Article

Workplace Skills in Practice: Case Studies of Technical Work

The study used a sociocultural approach to examine skills and work-related dispositions (tendencies to use one's capabilities on the job) in four diverse industries.

Jun 28, 2016
Report

Cyber Practices: What Can the U.S. Air Force Learn from the Commercial Sector?

Some common commercial practices for cyber workforce management and organizational issues are applicable to the U.S. Air Force as it endeavors to improve the management of its cyber forces.

Sep 9, 2015
Research Brief

Research Brief

Planning for Higher Education Programs: Effectively Using Data and Modeling to Understand Workforce Needs

Workforce data sources provide valuable information, though no source should be used on its own. The information should be used to manage new and ongoing degree programs and for periodic strategic planning.

Apr 23, 2015
Report

Report

Using Workforce Information for Degree Program Planning in Texas

This report describes current practices in using workforce information for degree program planning, analyzes options for using workforce information, recommends promising practices, describes new data tools, and applies these tools.

Feb 11, 2015
Report

Youth in Jordan: Transitions from Education to Employment

Despite Jordan's strong economic growth during the last decade, youth unemployment remains high, as graduates don't possess the skills necessary for their desired professions. Numerous policy reforms could turn the tide.

Jun 30, 2014
Commentary

Surprise! Now What?

Who is best prepared for responding to surprise: a Navy SEAL, an NFL coach, or a Fortune 500 CEO? The answer is that all three professions have something to teach us: The NFL coach is an expert in pre-planning; the SEAL is great under pressure; and a good CEO has become an expert in responding to strategic threats.

Aug 27, 2013
Q&A

Surprise: Q and A with Dave Baiocchi and D. Steven Fox

Dealing with surprises is an important part of many professions. The NFL coach prepares by developing a comprehensive response plan for anything that could happen during the game while the Navy SEALs rely on a looser framework that helps them stay alive and achieve their mission objective.

Aug 14, 2013
Research Brief

Research Brief

The Elements of Surprise: How Professionals Prepare for and Respond to Unexpected Events

This research brief summarizes the findings of a project that sought to identify common strategies used by practitioners in various professions, from professional sports to Navy SEALs, to respond to unexpected events.

Aug 14, 2013

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Research conducted by

RAND Education and Labor