For Release Upon Receipt - April 14, 2000
Contact:
Janice Zazinski, Boston University, 617-353-4198
Annemarie Lewis-Kerwin, UMass Boston, 617-287-5318
Christopher Viveiros, Northeastern University, 617-373-5720
COMMISSION ON OLDER WORKERS TO PRESENT FINDINGS TO GOVERNOR
Today's tight labor markets only a preview of problems to come
WHO: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Blue Ribbon Commission on Older Workers. Appointed in 1997 by then-Lieutenant Governor Paul Cellucci, the 12-member Commission is an independent panel of leaders from industry, labor, education, and public interest organizations, headed by former U.S. Secretary of Labor John Dunlop, who will present the major findings.
The study was co-authored by Boston University Professor of Economics Peter Doeringer, University of Massachusetts-Boston Professor David Terkla, and Northeastern University Professor Andrew Sum.
WHAT: At the State House press conference to present its findings to Governor Cellucci, the Commission warns of worsening labor shortages in the next five years unless major changes are made in the way that workers age 45 and older are hired and trained.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 19, 2000, 10 a.m.
WHERE: PLEASE NOTE NEW LOCATION - THE GRAND STAIRCASE AT THE STATE HOUSE
WHY: With unemployment at its lowest level in nearly 27 years, the Commission has concluded that the Massachusetts economy will lose about 250,000 new jobs to other states or overseas, as labor scarcities reach crisis proportions. Older workers, they say, could fill these positions and thus sustain the health of the Massachusetts economy - if they have the appropriate training and support.
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