What is Low-Skill Work

Scholars, practitioners, and policy makers have for decades asserted a need for employer participation in workforce training but have at the same time lamented that such participation has been and still is lacking. This chapter identifies reasons why employers should have an interest in becoming active participants in training and developing the technology workforce of the future. To overcome the unique challenges of the next few decades brought on by globalization and international competition, employers must be more actively involved in the development of low-skilled workers for high-skill technology jobs. This chapter discusses why a highly educated, highly skilled technology workforce is needed and why low-skilled workers must be trained and developed, considers the particular challenges for low-skilled workers, presents commonly suggested solutions to the problem of preparing low-skilled workers for high-skill technology work, and finally reviews what employers should do, how they stand to benefit, and how they can be involved more effectively.