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DOL Hosts Summit on 21st Century Workforce

June 11, 2001

Government leaders and other interested parties from across the\r\ncountry will participate in the first Summit on the 21st Century\r\nWorkforce.

EHS Today Staff

As part of an new mission to prepare the nation''s workforce to adapt to changes in the economy, business, labor, academics, government leaders and other interested parties from across the country will participate in the first Summit on the 21st Century Workforce on June 20 in Washington, D.C.

"To succeed in the 21st Century, our nation must be prepared to adapt to changes in our economy -- in how we work, where we work, and how we balance our professional and family lives," said Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. "The Department of Labor cannot and must not simply react to changes. We must anticipate them, thus helping all workers to have as fulfilling and financially rewarding careers as they aspire to have."

In addition to Chao, speakers at the summit will include Secretary of Education Rod Paige; Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans; Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer; and Hotel Employees and Restaruant Employees International Union President John Wilhelm.

Topics will address the structural changes that are affecting our workforce and our economy by focusing on three main topics:

The skills gap within the workforce
The demographic changes facing the workforce
The future of the workplace

"The 21st Century workforce is not just about making sure that Silicon Valley has enough engineers. Its mission is to provide hope -- to ensure that all American workers have the opportunity to equip themselves with the necessary tools to succeed in their careers and in whatever field they choose in this new and dynamic global economy," Chao said. "This is a time of tremendous change across the country and across the globe. America''s 21st Century workforce needs to adjust to the changes of the 21st Century economy. These changes include a fundamental transformation for all industries and increasingly require higher skill sets and higher education."

Anyone interested in working together to identify the challenges we are facing as we begin the new millennium is welcome to attend. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

by Melissa Martin

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.