Table of Contents

EDITORS' NOTES 1
Richard M. Romano, Hirschel Kasper

1. The Economics of Community College Labor Markets: A Primer 3
Hirschel Kasper
With particular reference to the community college, this chapter reviews economic and other factors that influence the demand for labor and its supply.

2. Technological Change, Globalization, and the Community College 11
Richard M. Romano, Donald A. Dellow
This chapter explores the historical impact of changing technology on the nature of work and skill requirements. Globalization in the form of job outsourcing will create a challenge for certain occupational programs.

3. Help Wanted: Postsecondary Education and Training Required 21
Anthony P. Carnevale, Jeff Strohl, Nicole Smith
The authors discuss the connection between credentials and earnings and the importance of postsecondary education as the arbiter of economic opportunity.

4. National Labor Market Projections for Community College Students 33
Dixie Sommers
This chapter presents specially prepared data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on the average annual job growth and replacement needs for occupations for which the community college is a significant path of preparation. It explains the BLS's methodology and the risk associated with these projections.

5. The Outlook in the Health Sciences 53
Janell Lang
Building on data presented in Chapter Four, the author addresses the challenges and opportunities for students and colleges in this occupational area.

6. The Outlook in Business and Related Fields 63
Robert Walker
This chapter builds on data presented in Chapter Four and addresses the opportunities for students and colleges in this occupational area.

7. The Outlook in Engineering-Related Technology Fields 69
Peggie Weeks
This chapter builds on data presented in Chapter Four and addresses the challenges and opportunities for students and colleges in this occupational area.

8. The Outlook in the Protective Service Fields 77
Gregory Talley, Susan Korsgren
This chapter covers law enforcement, homeland security, and related fields. It builds on data presented in Chapter Four and addresses the opportunities for students and colleges in these occupational areas.

9. The Outlook for Noncredit Workforce Education 87
Michelle Van Noy, James Jacobs
Reporting on a study of short-term workforce training covering all states, this chapter discusses funding sources, outcomes, and long-term trends of these noncredit programs.

10. How Well Do Community Colleges Respond to the Occupational Needs of Local Communities? Evidence from California 95
Duane E. Leigh, Andrew M. Gill
Using large national and statewide databases, the authors examine how well community colleges respond to changing demand by providing occupational training programs that are marketable in their local economy.

11. The Outlook for Transfer Programs and the Direction of the Community College 103
Barbara K. Townsend
This chapter discusses the growth of the applied baccalaureate degree at four- and two-year colleges.

INDEX 111

About the Author

Richard M. Romano is the director of the Institute for Community College Research at Broome Community College in Binghamton, New York, and a research associate at the Institute for Community Development and the Cornell Higher Education Research Institute at Cornell University. Hirschel Kasper is professor of economics at Oberlin College.