New York: Deloitte recently published the results of a new survey in a series entitled Talent Edge 2020. It features results from a survey that polled more than 300 global business executives across industries. The report suggests that, as companies worldwide struggle to move beyond the great recession, many executives recognize the need to develop talent strategies to meet the demands of the 'new normal'. Click here to download a copy of the report.

With trends such as globalization and the aging workforce gaining traction during recession, global talent leaders are now focused on finding the right balance between economic realities and investment requirements as they position their companies for success in the next decade.

Key findings include:

• The talent paradox is already creating key shortages: High unemployment rates have not created the talent surplus as predicted. On the contrary, many executives predict talent shortages across key business units.
• Companies are increasingly challenged to develop the next generation of leaders: With the retirement of Baby Boomers, many executives are concerned over their companies' leadership development programs and pipelines.
• The race for talent is global: Once-emerging markets of the pre-recession days have become the catalyst for future growth, placing tremendous demands on talent managers to get the new people in new jobs at new locations.
• "World Class" talent leaders are pursuing a different agenda: Executives who describe their company's talent programs as "world class" appear to have a different set of priorities and a stronger focus on long-term talent investments.
• Companies with retention plans in place are moving beyond anxiety and taking action: Even though most executives are concerned about retention, only those companies with an existing retention plan are moving beyond anxiety and focusing on initiatives.

Washington, DC: For over a half century, science-based innovation has powered America's economy, creating good jobs, a high standard of living, and U.S. economic and political leadership. Yet, our nation's global share of activity in STEM-focused industries is in decline, jeopardizing our status as the world's leader in innovation.

Moreover, there is clear evidence that the United States is consistently not able to produce enough of its own STEM workers in key fields (e.g., computer science, electrical engineering), even though the best universities for studying these subjects are U.S.-based.

While increasing the quantity and quality of U.S. STEM graduates will not by itself solve the problem of declining U.S. innovation-based competitiveness, it is an important component of a larger national innovation strategy. Consequently, there is increasing concern over how to give more American students stronger STEM skills and get them into STEM jobs.

A new report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation examines STEM education. Click here for a downloadable copy of the report.

Lancaster: On Tuesday, November 30, 2010, the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board sponsored its 11th Annual Workforce Summit, this year, entitled "The Challenge of Long-Term Unemployment for the Workforce System and the Regional Economy". Click here to download a copy of the program which also includes the Annual Report of the Board.

A feature of the Summit was a presentation by Scott Sheely, Executive Director of the Board, who offered a presentation on the State of the Workforce 2011 with PA Secretary of Labor and Industry Sandi Vito commenting on the problem of long-term unemployment and its implications for the recovery and regional economic growth. Sheely closed the program with an overview of actions taken by the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County as it anticipates at 50% increase in services in the face of continued high unemployment. Click here to download a copy of the presentation.

In addition, the Board recognized individuals and organizations as Friends of Workforce for there contribution throughout the year...

• Ed Kauffman and R/W Connections
• Kathy Keller and Donsco
• Walmart Foundation
• Spanish-American Civic Association
• Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit #13
• Patty Pasquino and Willow Valley
• Sandi Vito

Sharon Leese, Chair of the Board, further recognized James Black, Chair from 2008-2010, for his dedicated service to the workforce system and the community.

London: Via the BBC, Hans Rosling examines the correlation between income growth and life expectancy in 200 countries over the last 200 hundred years in an amazing animation. Take a look by clicking here.

Washington, DC: In January, 37 governors, many of them new, will take office facing daunting challenges, including many immediate needs for which there is precious little time or money to meet. But at the same time, they have an opportunity to lead their states, and the nation, into the next economy, which must be driven by exports, powered by low carbon, fueled by innovation, rich with opportunity. Click here for a downloadable copy of the report.

An economy with those characteristics will also be metropolitan-led. Leadership at the state level will be crucial, as the political environment in Washington, DC is very likely to produce little more than partisanship and rancor. The US must instead rely on the kind of innovation at the state level that has so often propelled the federalist system.