Learning for Life

PREFACE

Shift to a Knowledge Economy

The economy has changed quickly and significantly in recent decades. However, our understanding and response to the shifting economic context is still rooted in the mid–20th century. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was possible to sustain a career and support a family with semi-skilled factory work. But today, even if that factory worker has specialized skills to troubleshoot an automated assembly line, there are fewer and fewer well-paying manufacturing jobs available.

In the past 50 years, the United States economy has dramatically decreased dependence on manufacturing. In 1960, manufacturing was responsible for roughly one-quarter of the gross domestic product (GDP). Today, manufacturing has decreased to 10% ...