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ETA News Release: [05/16/2003]
Contact Name: Elissa
Pruett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
U.S. Labor Department Hosts Biotechnology Industry
Executive Forum in Newark, Delaware
Industry and
Government to Plan Strategy to Fill Jobs in High Growth Industry
NEWARK, Del. (May 16,
2003)—In a period of economic downturn, the biotechnology industry
offers hope—good jobs at good pay. That’s why Assistant Secretary of
Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco called an executive
forum in Newark, Del., today to speak with industry leaders.
DeRocco’s information gathering mission is part of the
Biotechnology Industry Executive Forum held at Delaware Technology Park.
“This Administration understands how important it is to give
employers the skilled workforce they need, and workers the opportunity to
succeed in jobs with a prosperous future,” said DeRocco. “That’s
why this forum is so critical. It’s an opportunity to listen to employers,
hear what’s needed, and work with them to prepare workers for promising
jobs in the biotechnology field.”
Biotechnology is a high-growth industry that has more than tripled in
size from 1992 through 2001, with revenues increasing from $8 to $27.6 billion.
The number of employees in the industry has more than doubled over the same
time period, growing from 79,000 to 191,000. Drug manufacturing, agricultural
services and health services, all of which are involved with biotechnology, are
projected to add more than 3 million new jobs between 2000 and 2010.
To ensure that good jobs don’t go unfilled, DeRocco has spearheaded
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao’s High Growth Job Training Initiative,
built on the premise that successful workforce development happens when the
public workforce system is demand-driven and training programs prepare workers
with the skills required for jobs that employers need to fill. Hearing directly
from industry at this executive forum is the first step in the
Initiative’s process.
In the past eight months, DeRocco has held executive forums in four
other industry sectors—automotive, health care, retail and geospatial.
The biotechnology industry uses biological processes to solve problems
and to make useful products. It includes firms involved in drug discovery and
production, research, and biologically engineered food production.
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