Economic Development and Education

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Economic Development and Education

• Penn State Worthington Scranton
• March 22, 2006

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The Knowledge Based Economy

• Today, the knowledge required to run the
  economy, which is far more complex than in our
  past, is both deeper and broader than ever
  before. We need to ensure that education in the
  United States, formal or otherwise, is supplying
  skills adequate for the effective functioning of
  our economy.

---Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the Board of
Governors of the US Federal Reserve System, the
Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce 2004 Annual
Meeting, Omaha, February 20, 2004
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General Skill Levels Required
Source U.S. Bureau of Census and Pennsylvania
Department of Labor and Industry, Center for
Workforce Information and Analysis (Pennsylvania
statewide)
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• Educational Attainment

Pennsylvania Labor Force (Light Blue) and NE PA
(Dark Blue)
Source U.S. Bureau of Census, Current Population
Survey (CPS), Basic
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• The Aging Workforce

Millions of Pennsylvanians
Source U.S. Bureau of Census, Current Population
Survey, March Supplement and PA Department of
Labor Industry, Center for Workforce
Information Analysis
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Workforce Development
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• Question How can business and industry minimize
  the amount of training being conducted
  internally?
• Answer Get involved in Business Education
  Partnerships

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Best Practice Example

• Tobyhanna Army Depot Initiative
• Tours for students and educators
• Guest speakers in classrooms
• Hands on activities onsite and in the classroom
• Presentations to community groups
• School Career Experience Program
• Consortium Participation
• College degrees offered onsite
• And more

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• Susan Shaffer
• NEPA Alliance
• 1151 Oak St.
• Pittston, PA 18640
• 570-655-5581
• sshaffer_at_nepa-alliance.org
• www.nepa-alliance.org