CONSERVATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL HUMAN-RESOURCES IN THE U.S

THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES PROBLEMS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE UNEMPLOYMENT OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS AND WHY MANY INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO ALLEVIATE IT HAVE BEEN FUNDED. IN 1968 WHAT BEGAN AS A MODERATE REDUCTION IN SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND ASSOCIATED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BECAME AN ABRUPT DECLINE. BETWEEN 50,000 - 65,000 SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND TECHNICIANS WERE TERMINATED. THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE GEOGRAPHICAL IMPACT OF THESE CUTBACKS. THE EDUCATION AND PROFICIENCY OF THIS HIGHLY TECHNICAL GROUP REPRESENTS A VALUABLE NATIONAL RESOURCE, AND ASSET WHICH THE NATION CAN ILL AFFORD TO WASTE. THE ARTICLE FOCUSES ON ATTEMPTED SOLUTIONS AND DISCUSSES RETRAINING PROGRAMS. FEDERAL ACTION IS DETAILED. THE COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACT OF 1973 REPLACED NUMEROUS FEDERALLY FUNDED MANPOWER TRAINING PROGRAMS AND WILL PASS FUNDS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THIS PURPOSE. DIRECT GRANTS WILL BE MADE TO STATES.