March 11, 2004 Washington, DC -- The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) today reiterated the importance of education and training in fostering innovation, investment and job growth in America. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce this morning held a hearing on "The Changing Nature of the Economy: The Critical Roles of Education and Innovation in Creating Jobs & Opportunity in a Knowledge Economy", which included testimony from ITI member company, Intel Corporation.

 

"America’s talented workforce is the key to robust growth in our nation's economy," said ITI President Rhett Dawson. "If the U.S. is to remain the center of technological innovation and investment, the next generation of industry leaders must be adequately prepared to adapt to a changing workforce environment."

 

In its High Tech Growth Agenda released yesterday, ITI outlined 12 specific policy recommendations for Congress to accelerate U.S. economic growth and competitiveness. To prepare our nation's children and workforce for the jobs of the future, ITI urged support for policies that "promote math and science through K-12 and higher education programs" such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the Higher Education Act.

 

Despite record growth in the science and technology sector and increasing job opportunities in the U.S., the number of American students pursuing degrees in math and science continues to decline. As a result, the U.S. is not producing the highly skilled workforce necessary to remain the dominant force in global information technology (IT) markets and is at risk of ceding its technology leadership in the coming decades.

 

ITI and its member companies will work with Congress and the Administration to help ensure that the U.S. produces a more adaptive workforce that will keep America on the leading edge of innovation and global competitiveness.

 

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) represents the leading U.S. providers of information technology (IT) products and services. ITI is the voice of the high tech community, advocating policies that foster U.S. economic growth and job creation by advancing U.S. leadership in technology and innovation; expanding market access for IT products; protecting consumer privacy and choice; promoting e-commerce; and enhancing the global competitiveness of its member companies.

ITI member companies include Accenture, Agilent Technologies, Apple, Canon U.S.A., Cisco, Corning, Dell, Eastman Kodak, eBay, EMC, Hewlett-Packard, Honeywell, IBM,

 
Intel, Lexmark, Microsoft, National Semiconductor, NCR, Oracle, Panasonic, SAP, Sony

Electronics, Sun Microsystems, Symbol Technologies, Tektronix, Time Warner, and Unisys. For more information, contact Shannon Feaster at sfeaster@itic.org.

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