Julian Alssid of the New-York-based Workforce Strategy Center has written an incisive op-ed in the Christian Science Monitor regarding the status and future of America’s workers. Alssid argues that we have plenty of workers to fill tomorrow’s jobs, but our workers lack the advanced skills and knowledge that those jobs require.
As of 2006, nearly half [...]

Clusters are one of the hottest topics in economic and workforce development. The concept of industry cluster analysis, however, can be somewhat ambiguous. This document walks through the industry and industry cluster gap analysis reports available in EMSI’s Strategic Advantage (specifically the Economic Impact module). These tools allow economic development professionals to identify “missing links” [...]

In this document, an EMSI economist and data specialist evaluate the RaDiUS database of federal R&D grants as a potential source of regional economic indicators.
RaDiUS (Research and Development in the U.S.) is a database developed by a subsidiary of the Rand Corporation. It’s primary focus is the tracking of federal grants given to research and [...]

Read the full release.
VICTORIA, Sept. 19 /CNW/ – The B.C. economy creates $7.7 billion in income each year due to BC colleges and their past students, an amount that equals over four per cent of the provincial economy.
A government-sponsored study conducted for BC colleges by CCbenefits Inc. reported these findings today in the largest [...]

The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (a part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce) is having its annual summit on Sept. 24-26 in Washington, D.C. The event includes a keynote speech by Fed chief Ben Bernanke.
The Summit is part of a national effort to promote effective and sustainable business and education partnerships. Now, more than [...]

Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW): This Michigan-based nonprofit specializes in “helping stakeholders across the country in business, government, education, economic development, human services and philanthropy find ways to adapt and thrive.”

Upcoming symposium on entrepreneurship sponsored by the U.S. Economic Development Administration: September 26th in Kansas City. This is just one of several regional symposia of the same kind.

Nonemployer Statistics (Census): A major source of data on non-covered workers, particularly proprietors.

The 2002 Economic Census is a key supplemental source for industry data, although it is somewhat outdated. The 2007 Economic Census begins data collection in December 2007.

County Business Patterns (Census) provides the number of establishments and employee ranges by industry.