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ERIC Number: ED270174
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1984-Feb
Pages: 15
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Technician Supply and Demand: How Can Community and Technical Colleges Help Fill the Need? Council for Occupational Education Monograph Series, Volume 1, Number 1.
Owen, H. James
In an effort to document how existing industry sees the current status of trained technicians, the American Association for Community and Junior Colleges' Council for Occupational Education, the Association of Community College Trustees, and the Electronic Industries Association conducted a targeted national survey of technician supply and demand. Staff at 23 community and technical colleges surveyed business and industry in 20 metropolitan areas within 15 states. Of the 353 industries participating in the survey, 293 gave complete responses. Study findings included the following: (1) 54% of the responding firms had affiliated subsidiaries, 36% were wholly owned companies, and 10% did not classify themselves as either; (2) 36% were engaged in manufacturing, 10% in research and development, and 14% in both manufacturing and research and development; (3) the top ranked basic skills or competencies required of entry-level technicians were basic electronics, mathematical competence, communication skills, blueprint reading, and knowledge of test equipment; (4) the top ranked steps for alleviating present technician shortages were "increase in-house training,""increase recruitment efforts," and "utilize existing training from community and technical colleges"; (5) company expansion and industry-wide growth and demand for technicians were the leading perceived causes of technician shortages; and (6) 37% of the industries indicated that the associate degree was the minimum educational requirement for entry-level technicians. The survey instrument is appended. (RO)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Cooperative Educational Service Agency #5, Portage, WI.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Prepared with assistance from the Council for Community Services and Continuing Education, Association of Community College Trustees, Electronic Industries Association, and Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale.