New Rules for a New Economy: Employment and Opportunity in Postindustrial America

Written by economic consultants, this book is a treatise on the changing demographics of the American workforce and how corporations should work to alter job patterns in order to adapt to evolving employment trends. The authors first cite statistics to show the lack of growth in pay, benefits and positions for the lowest-skilled workers. Despite the technological and economic growth since WWII, the majority of manufacturing jobs remain low paying and provide few prospects for future growth. According to the authors, there is little chance that the level of service provided by these workers will improve without changes in these jobs. Among the strategies the authors advise: raising the minimum wage and expanding training programs across different companies. Although the sections on the evolution of the workplace since WWII are quite interesting, this book will appeal primarily to employment specialists and human resource professionals. (Sept.)