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21st Century Workplace

In June 2001, Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, convened the 21st Century Workforce Summit to address three main issues:

  1. The skills gap - technology has created the need for a highly skilled workforce and many workers will need to be re-trained in order to be employed in the new economy.
     
  2. Demographic changes in the workforce - the Secretary of Labor referred to our ADemographic Destiny@ to describe a shrinking workforce resulting from aging workers and a birthrate below the Areplacement rate.@ Secretary Chao said the Department will focus on bringing disabled workers into the workforce and encouraging older workers to remain in the workforce, or to return.
     
  3. The nature of work - the Department will also focus on the way work has changed - younger workers will have more employers and shorter tenure than their parents and will spend more time at work than with their families.

IPMA believes that human resources professionals at all levels of government are in a unique position to provide advice and assistance to the Secretary of Labor in her efforts to address these changes.

21st Century Workforce Resolution
WHEREAS: The International Personnel Management Association is a leader in representing public employers interests; and

WHEREAS: The Department of Labor recently held a summit to focus on workforce issues called the 21st Century Workforce Summit; and

WHEREAS: At the summit the Secretary of Labor announced the establishment of a new office of the 21st Century Workforce; and

WHEREAS: That office will focus on issues affecting the workers of the future including the skills gap, a shrinking workforce, and changes in the way people work today; and

WHEREAS: The International Personnel Management Association supports efforts to improve opportunities for workers and employers; and

WHEREAS: Public employers have the potential to positively impact the Department of Labor=s efforts; therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the International Personnel Management Association supports the efforts of the Department of Labor to address workforce issues; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the International Personnel Management Association urges the Department of Labor to work with human resources professionals and their professional organizations when developing new workplace policies.