Research Report America's Forgotten Middle-Skill Jobs
Subtitle
Education and Training Requirements in the Next Decade and Beyond
Harry Holzer, Robert I. Lerman
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This paper, written for the Workforce Alliance in Washington, D.C., analyzes data on recent employment and wage trends, as well as projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to analyze the likely future demand for workers in "middle-skill" jobs - i.e., those requiring more than secondary school but less than a bachelor's degree. Contrary to recent assertions that demand for middle-skill jobs will shrink dramatically (creating an "hourglass" or "dumbbell" labor market), we find that demand for such jobs will remain quite robust. The growth in supply of workers with these skills will also likely shrink as baby boomers retire and are replaced by immigrants. Thus, education and training programs that help less-educated workers gain these skills remain a worthwhile investment.

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Research Areas Education Wealth and financial well-being Workforce
Tags Workforce development Workplace and industry studies Employment and income data
Policy Centers Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population