The Why, How, and Whence of Manpower Programs

Short- and long-run factors have influenced the emergence of United States manpower policy. The transition from agrarian to industrial and postindustrial society has had varied effects upon employability in the labor market. Inadequate aggregate demand is a better explanation than structural unemployment as a cause for the manpower problems of the late 1950's. During the 1960's, there has been a shift in the emphasis of manpower policy from those displaced by automation, to youth, to the disadvantaged. There are many difficulties in mounting employment strategies to fight the war on poverty and in designing alternative manpower programs for these groups. Thus far, the approach has been a piecemeal attack, with new programs being originated to meet individually recognized manpower and employment problems as they arose. Current issues in creating a viable manpower policy include: inadequate resources relative to need, development of the proper mix of federal-state-local administrative jurisdictions, co-ordination of the varied programs, and determination of the appropriate degree of emphasis to be given to remedial, as opposed to preventive, programs. A major revision needed in existing manpower activities is tailoring programs to the needs of individuals rather than making people fit into existing programs. A comprehensive manpower program is needed to meet this goal. Evaluation efforts and management techniques must be improved to assure that correct policies are delineated and implemented. Given the basic goal of enhancing individual freedom, effective manpower policies can do much to help the disadvantaged to expand their opportunities and to face the problems of their complex urban society better.