A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 1997

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
National School-to-Work Office, Nancy Mathis (202) 401-6222
Department of Education , Jim Bradshaw (202) 401- 1576
Department of Labor, Gerry Gibbs (202) 219-8211

ONE IN FOUR U.S. BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES INVOLVED IN SCHOOL-TO-WORK INITIATIVES

Employer participation in School-to-Work partnerships has exceeded all expectations in the last three years, with one in four U.S. businesses and industries involved in School-to-Work initiatives. The findings are part of a National Employer Survey released today at a seminar sponsored by the National School-to-Work Office, the Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), and the National Center for Postsecondary Improvement.

The survey also showed that the National School-to-Work initiative has surpassed its own benchmarks. More than 91 percent of all School-to-Work businesses are now providing work-based learning to students -- internships, job-shadowing, mentoring and apprenticeships, according to the report. That measure far exceeds the goal of 30 percent business participation by 1997 set when the School-to-Work Opportunities Act passed in 1994. The National School-to-Work initiative is jointly administered by the Departments of Education and Labor. "School-to-Work is succeeding," said Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, "because employers understand how valuable working with students and schools can be to improving education and the labor force. The initiative lays the groundwork for students to pursue promising futures, college and rewarding careers." "Through their participation in School-to-Work partnerships, employers clearly recognize that a good education, which is strong on the basics and relevant work skills, is critical for our people and our businesses to succeed in our highly competitive, technology-intensive global economy," said Labor Secretary Alexis M. Herman.

This National Employer Survey is the second of two surveys originally designed by the National Center on the Educational Quality of the Workforce (EQW) and administered by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The first, conducted in 1994, yielded important information about how employers need and pursue quality, skilled workers. This summer, the U.S. Bureau of the Census queried almost 7,000 businesses and industries with 20 or more employees with a response rate of 78 percent. Of the businesses with 1,000 or more employees, 60 percent participate in School-to-Work partnerships.

According to the survey's findings, several key factors encourage manufacturers and non-manufacturers alike to participate in School-to-Work. Those employers:

Participate in community activities
Rate local high school as adequate or better in preparing students for the workforce
Probably increased permanent workforce over the last three years
Usually use teachers' references in making hiring decisions

Several specific manufacturing and service industries have significant School-to-Work commitments. For example, the following industries have significant participation rates:

35 percent of Transportation Equipment Manufacturers
27 percent of the Publishing and Printing Industry
37 percent of the Utilities
44 percent of the Communication Industry
44 percent of the Health Services Industry

The findings were presented at a Washington seminar entitled, "Bringing School-to-Work to Scale: What Employers Report." Robert Zemsky, director of the Institute for Research on Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania, and Daniel Shapiro, director of research at the institute, discussed the survey's findings along with JD Hoye, director of the National School-to-Work Office, and Sheryl Haushalter Herron, vice president of administration for Robinson Fin Machines, Inc., Kenton, Ohio.

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