Technician Manpower in the South: High Tech Industries or High Tech Occupations?

Two paths may be followed to project training needs for high technology: concentration on the employment composition of high technology industries or focus on high technology occupations. The pervasiveness of high technology occupations appears to verify the wisdom of considering total industry employment in manpower planning for high technology occupations. While there has been interest in expanding the supply of engineers and computer personnel, less has been said about manpower needs at the technician level. An adequate supply of engineering and science technicians who are trained primarily in postsecondary institutions below the baccalaureate level will be equally important to the revitalization of industry. While the state employment agency projections of the occupational demand for engineering and science technicians in several southern states indicate a balance between supply and demand, these projections may not reflect the dynamic changes taking place. When demand for engineering and science technicians is measured on the basis of more dynamic projections--on the basis of what the demand would be if southern states were to employ the same proportion in their industries as is projected for the nation in 1990--need for expansion of training programs below the baccalaureate level for engineering and science technicians exists. (YLB)