Nevada workforce poorly educated

Robert Fielden, Henderson

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 | 2 a.m.

Regarding J. Patrick Coolican’s Oct. 24 column:

Are Coolican and the Las Vegas Sun the only ones in the Las Vegas Valley who understand there will be “no here here” again until we repopulate the community with an educated workforce who can speak in complete sentences; understand the purposes of a paragraph in writing; and can add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers less than one and more than 100?

His column, “We won’t fulfill Romney’s dream,” is on point. Regarding construction — with the exception of some remodeling, upgrades and additions to resort properties — the industry is virtually dead.

Those surviving are working elsewhere.

The 21st century economy needs learned people for jobs in technology, business and commerce.

Blue-collar and white-collar employers today seek knowledgeable workers, people who can learn continuously and relearn for tomorrow’s emerging needs.

According to a 2011 report published by the Education Alliance of Washoe County, “Although Nevada has one of the best business tax climates in the nation, its economy is in crisis with the highest unemployment rate, lowest rate of job growth and a falling GDP.”

The report goes on to state that Nevada has one of the least-educated adult populations in the nation — we rank 49th in college graduates and last in eighth-grade reading performance. As for best states for business, the report says a CNBC study ranks Nevada 47th.

If we want our community to move toward prosperity, preparing youngsters for parking cars ain’t going to cut it.