TRAINING AND RETRAINING: MYTH AND REALITY

Significant changes are occurring in the work place, affecting some 10 percent of the work force each year. Although not all these workers need retraining, many of them are finding that acquisition of a new skill is the key to keeping or regaining a good job. Retraining and reeducation are also important factors in U.S competitiveness. The greater the skills and better the education of the workforce, the more flexibly American businesses can adapt to intensifying world competition. Government programs and employers are, to some degree, providing retraining for adults, and workers are increasingly aware of its value. There are still unmet needs for adult training and education, however, especially among those who could benefit most — the less skilled and less educated.