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Congressional Briefing
Monday, October 23, 2000 -- 1:00 p.m.
H-137 - The Capitol

on

BUILDING A WORKFORCE FOR THE INFORMATION ECONOMY

by

ALAN G. MERTEN, President, George Mason University and Chairman, Committee on Workforce Needs in Information Technology, The National Academies

This new report from The National Academies, Building a Workforce for the Information Economy, examines U.S. high-technology workforce needs over the next ten years, with emphasis on information technology (IT), and establishes a common base for national discussions. In particular, the report profiles the current IT workforce, including older workers, describes the market demand for IT workers, and examines the availability of both domestic and non-U.S. workers. Furthermore, it also touches on the capacity of the U.S. educational system and of employer training programs to produce qualified workers, as well as the feasibility of meeting labor needs from abroad. Finally, it identifies useful data sources for further investigation.

This briefing was for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on October 24, 2000 and can be accessed, online, through the Web site of The National Academies Press.