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Closing Statement Prepared for Delivery by
U.S.
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
"Preparing for the Jobs of the 21st
Century"
President's Economic Summit
Washington, D.C.
Thursday,
December 16, 2004
I want to thank all of you for your insights and recommendations. We've
covered a lot of ground in a very short time!
The message of this panel is very clear: the needs of our workforce and
our education system are inseparable.
Our children and our workers must have a solid foundation
in the basics if they are to succeed in the 21st-century workforce. As Ed Rust
has pointed out, education is key to addressing the disconnect between the jobs
available and the skills of our workers. And as Deborah noted, we must nurture
math and science talent to preserve the innovation that has delivered such a
high quality of life for our nation's workers.
That's why it's critical to expand the President's No Child Left Behind
Initiative to the high-school level. Kati Haycock spoke eloquently about the
need to teach everyone to the same high standard. As our nation's population
grows more diverse, it is more important than ever that each child graduate
with a strong foundation in English, math and science. We are kidding ourselves
if we believe that anything less will suffice in the competitive environment of
the 21st century.
Beyond the basics, the President has proposed new initiatives to expand
opportunities for lifelong learning for adults at the community level. Dr.
Green has given us examples of how important community colleges are becoming to
workers all across the spectrum. They are critical to helping new workers,
young mothers like Kellie, and dislocated workers looking for a new career
path.
And I want to thank Lt. Governor Steele for the great example he and
Governor Ehrlich are setting. They are ensuring that every tax dollar spent in
Maryland on job training makes a real difference. That's so important. In
traveling around the country, I have talked with students who suffered because
they completed a job-training program and then couldn't find a job because they
weren't taught relevant skills.
This Administration has done its part by creating the conditions for
job growth. Now our K-12 and post-secondary institutions need to ensure they
are providing students with relevant, marketable skills. We need a wide variety
of choices at all levels. That means not only 2-year and 4-year degree
programs, but apprenticeship programs in the skilled trades and other
professions offered by unions and employers. The 21st-century economy needs
them all.
So, thank you for coming and sharing your thoughts on how we can work
together to make sure our workforce is prepared for the challenges of the 21st
century.
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