Laserfiche WebLink
<br />6 CALIFORNIA'S EDGE <br /> <br />California's 21 st Century <br />EDGE <br /> <br />There is some reason for optimism that California is <br />well positioned to meet these challenges. California has <br />pioneering technologies, an enviable education and <br />training infrastructure, and major academic research <br />centers. Unlike some competitor states and nations, <br />California has attracted a young and diverse workforce. <br />But as observed by the California Economic Strategies <br />Panel, "California lacks an economic and workforce <br />investment strategy that focuses on regional strengths <br />and opportunities, and connects state and local efforts <br />for maximum impact."" <br /> <br />"California must <br />commit to a <br />high skill, <br />high wage, <br />'high road' <br /> <br />California must develop that <br />strategy and commit to a high <br />skill, high wage, "high road" econ- <br />omy." This means greater math <br />and science literacy; education <br />and training leading to jobs that <br />pay self-sufficiency wages and <br />offer career advancement; and <br />incentives and rewards for indus- <br />tries that combine investments in <br />worker training with world-class <br />innovation. <br /> <br />" <br />.......... .~~~.': ~.'!!y............. <br /> <br />Closing the gap between the supply and demand for <br />skilled workers will not address all of California's labor <br />market challenges. Far too many jobs will pay too little <br />to support a family,I' and the state will need other <br />kinds of economic and <br />social policies to ensure <br />.......................................... <br />that our prosperity is <br />shared equitably <br />among all those <br />who create it. But with- <br />out a highly skilled <br />workforce, California <br />stands no chance of <br /> <br />"California lacks <br /> <br />an economic <br />and workforce <br />investment strategy <br />that focuses on <br />regional strengths <br />and opportunities, <br />and connects state <br />and local efforts <br />for maximum <br /> <br />. " <br />............ !.'!!.P.q~~................ <br /> <br />maintaining its <br />competitive edge. <br /> <br />The decisions made by <br />the Governor and <br />Legislature in the next <br />few years will largely <br />determine whether the <br />state remains an eco- <br />nomic powerhouse. A <br />prosperous California <br />will be a highly skilled <br />California. <br /> <br />] 7 Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy, Conditions of Competitiveness of California's Economy (California Regional Economies <br />Project: 2004), downloaded from hup://www.labor.ca.gov/paneUespcrepmonocond.pdf. <br />]8 A "high road" economy is one that competes on the basis of productivity and quality, rather than cost. <br />] 9 More than one-third of the jobs California added between 2003 and 2005 were in low-paying industries. California Budget Project, Califomia's Job <br />Growth Was Strong, but Wage Gains Were Weak Between 2003 and 2005 (Policy Points: June 2006). <br /> <br />19E-9 <br /> <br />