Rapid retraining could revive economy

Sid Goodman, Las Vegas

Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011 | 2:04 a.m.

When the horse and buggy were displaced by the automobile, did our politicians squabble over the creation of more blacksmith shops to put the displaced smithies back to work, or did they stress retraining them to become auto mechanics?

My guess is that, then as now, most of those who lost their jobs could not, or possibly would not, be retrained fast enough in the new technology to fill the need. Technical high schools, on the other hand, began churning out auto-shop and mechanics students who quickly got absorbed into the automotive, aircraft, and other new technology industries of those days.

Production line and construction workers are the “smithies” of our time. Those who can’t find the few unskilled or semiskilled jobs not outsourced to other countries are left dependent on unemployment benefits or go jobless for years. What job growth exists goes to those students who have stressed learning the new technologies (“auto mechanics”) such as electronic communications, bio- and medical technology, etc.

Unfortunately, those who preach retraining don’t understand that it takes time to retrain — a single class in Microsoft Word or basic Internet doesn’t cut it. Retraining must be focused and rapid. Crash curricula supported with private and public funding is a solution. In addition, cutbacks in education capital, at all levels, prevent the longer-term development of skilled graduates needed for our future markets (read: jobs).