Since the end of war, United States enjoyed the post war prosperity for a long time. The slowdown of industrial growth, increased cost of production at home brought new competition from abroad of lower wage rates, lower taxes, and lower prices. The improved quality of foreign goods further gives competitors an advantage in trade over us.

The more emphasis in use of capital, technology to lower cost and improve quality of product to face competition from foreign goods and in effort to regain lost markets may further bring changes by the year 2000 as follows:

  1. There will be improvement of quality of education, with emphasis in use of technology, like computers, etc., bring change in knowledge and skills.
  2. The working conditions at workplace will improve, making it better and pleasant to work in the year 2000.

c, The number of service industries will grow, increasing the demand for workers in the service industries.

  1. The work force changes are becoming more eminent, because continued decrease in population growth rate from a highest rate of 1.79%, during 195060’s to no more than 0.5% between 2000 and 2010.

This slowdown will reduce the growth in the available labor supply. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago report in January, 1990Chicago Fed Letter points out that between 1970 and 1980, the number of persons in the 20 to 64 age group, the potential work force, ‘was increasing at an annual rate of 1.93% as a result of the Post World War If “Baby Boom.” This age group is projected to increase only at an annual rate of 0.78% between 2000 and 2010. The slowdown of work force growth rate may offer opportunities for work to minorities, women, and migrants.

The shortage of qualified workers may be further felt in all areas of production. The report follows a study in September, 1989 by the Mellon Foundation that estimated there will be only eight applicants for every 10 liberal arts faculty job by the year 2000.

“This nation faces a serious shortage of Ph.D.’s” according to the report. “A sharply increased demand will outstrip Ph.D. production before the tum of the century. Industry, Government, and Universities will be pitted against each other in a battle for the critical human capital.” The report “The Ph.D. Shortage! The Federal Role,” was prepared by a nine member working group of primarily graduate deans from AAUS institutions. It said the nation will suffer an annual shortage of 7500 natural science and engineering doctorates degrees in the humanities and social sciences will occur even sooner, said the report.

Faculty shortages already have appeared in engineering, business and other high demand fields. IN 1985, an estimated 43% of all doctorates employed in the United States were working outside of higher education. Across all fields, 50% of 1987 doctorate recipients had employment outside academics.

Dr.John N. Fabac, JCC SIFE Convocation Speaker on November 14, 1989, emphasized how the need for technically qualified employees has far outstripped the skill level of our high school graduates. Nearly one third of our youth does not complete high school, and the SAT scores of those who do graduate has decreased dramatically.

Thus, the hope for increased opportunities of work to minorities, women and lower income groups may dwindle because of increased opportunities for highly qualified persons. The minorities, women and lower income groups may not be able to adapt themselves to the new situation, and may fail to improve their educational qualities or skills to the ever improving technology of the work place.

Minority participation in the economy must be increased. If this is to be accomplished, we must have the input of minority representatives as we design and revise technical programs of instruction and training at the High Schools, College and University level.

We must provide more scholarships, grants, and fellowships to encourage young people to stay in Colleges and Universities. We should also try to make interest on loans tax deductible, which the student borrow to continue their educational goals at the Colleges and Universities.

(S Pritpal Singh Chatha is Faculty Advisor, and SIFE Fellow Jarvis Christian College Hawkins, Texas 75765)

 

Article extracted from this publication >> November 9, 1990