Economically Speaking: High-quality, flexible education key to state's economy

Joseph L. Driskill is the director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Summer has ended and children across the state have returned to the classroom some of them, perhaps, a little reluctantly. It will be a transition for students to resume their studies and brush up on math and reading skills that may have gotten a little rusty over summer vacation.

But, as parents, it's our job to teach our children the value of attending school and receiving a good education. At the same time, we need to teach them and remind ourselves that education does not end with high school commencement, a college degree or a technical certificate.

As with students, sometimes our skills on the job get a little rusty if we are not constantly striving to learn and improve our knowledge and training.

In today's new economy, the emphasis is on jobs that demand highly skilled workers, particularly those in the advanced manufacturing and life sciences industries.

For Missouri businesses to stay competitive in this technology-based global economy, our work force must be flexible and willing to learn new skills. It is our job at the Department of Economic Devel-opment to help ensure that our work force is ready to meet these new challenges. Educa-tion is more important than ever for our work force.

Missouri is known for having a high-quality work force.

Now, Gov. Bob Holden has made it his focus to ensure that Missouri has a highly skilled work force to offer to employers in such vital industries as the life sciences, advanced manufacturing and information technology.

Last year Gov. Holden started Missouri Mathematics Academy, an initiative meant to educate middle school math teachers on what employers are looking for in potential employees.

More than 80 teachers completed this year's academy and now have the tools they need to take back to their classroom to share with their students the work force of tomorrow. We are taking steps to prepare our children for the jobs of the future.

We also are working to prepare our current work force for the new demands of today's global economy.

We recognize that the whole process of economic development is changing quickly and we must change our approach.

A highly skilled work force is critical to this approach. If we continue to conduct "business as usual," Missouri will be left behind other states, which jeopardizes the economic security of Missouri families and businesses. In order to keep up with these changing times, our staff at the Department of Economic Development has placed an increased emphasis on improving the skills and education of our work force.

This fall, we are taking steps to address the training and education needs of Missouri's work force. Over the next few months, we will prepare an "economic blueprint" to help us lead the way in the new economy.

A key component of this blueprint will be developing our work force, mainly through our staff at our Division of Workforce Development. DWD operates the Missouri Career Centers, which are one-stop shops strategically located across the state. These centers offer a whole range of employment and training needs. Staff members are imminently qualified and available to offer job search tips and training assistance. Employers, job seekers and those with special needs can visit any Missouri Career Center and receive seamless and comprehensive services.

Through the career centers and other efforts that will be announced in coming months, we intend to do everything we can so that Missouri employees have the skills they need to succeed in today's job market.

Work force information is also available on the division's Web site at www.greathires.org.