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Central Illinois nearing career crisis

Experts speak of urgency in training = workforce for=20 highly skilled jobs

Thursday, October 11, 2007

By PAUL GORDON

of the journal star

PEORIA - The = sense of=20 urgency in developing a workforce ready for the jobs of the future = remains, as do the problems that need to be resolved, participants = in the=20 2007 Workforce Forum were told Wednesday.

In the meantime, economic prosperity in central Illinois and = statewide=20 continues to wane as competition for highly skilled, higher paying = jobs=20 heats up, the audience of nearly 300 learned during the forum at = the=20 Peoria Civic Center.

Guest speakers laid out for the audience how the state and the = area -=20 indeed, the country - are lagging in adequate funding for = education, which=20 translates into inadequate training for the jobs that will enable = central=20 Illinoisans to maintain their way of life.

"There is a state of urgency we are facing. The talent we need = for the=20 future is not being developed," Jack Gilligan, past chairman of = the=20 Central Illinois Workforce Board, said after the speakers = concluded during=20 the morning-long forum.

"We are indeed in a crisis that must be addressed. We are = losing jobs,=20 and we are going to reach a point where it's too late to turn that = ship=20 around," he said.

Speakers were Chris Glynn, president of Caterpillar University = and=20 outgoing chairman of the Workforce Board; Ralph Matire, executive = director=20 of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability; Ray Uhalde, = director of=20 workforce development strategies at the National Center on = Education and=20 the Economy; and Christopher Swanson, director of EPE Research = Center.

All discussed the challenges facing workers in central = Illinois, as=20 well as the state and country, as those abroad become better = trained for=20 the highly technical jobs of the future. That includes, Glynn = said, jobs=20 making products that are becoming increasingly sophisticated. He = noted=20 that the United States is far behind other countries in developing = highly=20 technical skills in its workers.

It all starts with education, the speakers concurred.=20

Matire spoke of how education funding and wage gaps grow, = putting=20 Illinois well behind other states in the nation even though it has = "by=20 far" the lowest tax burden in the Midwest and the third lowest in = the=20 country.=20

"We can expect continued erosion. Yes, projections can change, = but the=20 caution is out there. If we don't take some action, the situation = will=20 continue to deteriorate," Matire said.=20

"Education matters more than ever to economic prosperity," he = said.

For the first time ever, said Uhalde, "Americans are not = confident=20 their children and grandchildren will be better off than they = are."

Education reforms are needed, he said, including preparing = students for=20 college earlier, better wages for teachers to attract the best = people to=20 the profession and improved testing.

Swanson said there is a "mismatch between what is taught in = schools and=20 what is needed on the job."

Schools, he added, need to improve student readiness, first for = college=20 and then to enter the workforce.

Paul Gordon can be reached at 686-3288 or pgordon@pjstar.com.

Have a thought on this issue? Share it = by leaving a=20 message at (309) 687-8439 or e-mailing youpage@pjstar.com. = Comments may=20 appear in the Journal Star=92s YOUPage = on=20 Friday.

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There is 1 comment

Bart =

October 11, 2007 - 06:45

Subject:=20

"Illinois . . . has "by far" the lowest tax burden in the = Midwest and=20 the third lowest in the country. "

That's bull. Illinois has a high state income tax. Some of the = highest=20 gas, alcohol & cigarette taxes in the country. What a=20 crock.