A Shortage of Skilled Workers
Employers around the world face a shortage of trained IT professionals to fill key technical positions in the information economy. Many jobs go vacant today because they require different skills than those of available workers. According to Merrill Lynch, 39% of the current workforce and 26% of new hires have basic skill deficiencies.

Demand for technology literate, skilled workers is not a temporary trend. Mastery of basic technology skills will be a standard requirement for more and more jobs. According to the Information Technology Association of America, the national IT workforce in 2002 was 9.9 million. (See report summary: "Bouncing Back: Jobs, Skills and the Continuing Demand for IT Workers " May 2002). The ITAA study also reported that companies hope to hire an additional 1,148,639 workers and of those, 578,711 positions will go unfilled because applicants lack the requisite technical skills.

Shortage Threatens Competitiveness
The U.S.'s International Competitiveness is at stake. When compared to other countries, the U.S. lags in preparing its children to compete in tomorrow's workforce according to the International Math and Science Report and the findings of the Glenn Commission. Schools must adapt to meet the changing needs of the modern workplace. Jobs in both the health sciences and computer industries requiring science and mathematics skills will increase by 5.6 million by 2008.

The challenge exists not only with educating and training young people. The existing workforce needs the necessary updated skills to be successful in the new economy. Through an innovative alliance Cisco Systems, Communications Workers of America and Stanly Community College are preparing union members and U.S. military personnel with IT training for the future.

For more information go to Cisco's Workforce Transition Project Website.

Education for a Better Workforce
Education prepares children for the future and helps adults master change as they face new demands on the job. Tackling these issues will ready a 21st Century workforce.

K-12 Response
Primary and secondary schools must address a shortage of students skilled in math and science as well as persistence in high school and beyond.

High Tech Voc Ed
Traditional vocational education programs are being transformed to meet these new challenges. Vocational address two major education reform issues: keeping kids in school and training them to succeed in the 21st Century workforce.

Lifelong Learning
Education no longer terminates with a degree from a traditional institution, but continues throughout a person's lifetime giving rise to the demand for work-related courses, training institutions, and part-time educational alternatives.

SkillsUSA-VICA
SkillsUSA-VICA is the premier vocational student organization in the United States. By promoting SkillsUSA and the National Internetworking Competition, Cisco Learning Institute and Cisco improve the quality of vocational training programs, and raise the interest of students and adults to pursue careers in networking.

Workforce Transition Project
Through an innovative alliance, Cisco Systems, Communications Workers of America and Stanly Community College are preparing union members and U.S. military personnel with IT training for the future.

Facts and Figures

Information Sources