From Welfare to Work: Prospects for Transition

Welfare reform is at the top of the agenda for many members of the new Congress. But, as John Dorrer observes addressing this increasingly important topic, no silver bullet for solving our welfare problems has been found. He urges welfare reformers to attempt to understand the social and economic contexts in which our welfare system operates and to move cautiously in making changes

Do We Have the Workforce Skills for Maine’s Innovation Economy?

A convergence of economic and demographic forces is shaping a set of formidable challenges for Maine. This article describes how a workforce with superior skills is the key to economic growth and innovation. Over the last five decades, skill requirements have changed dramatically for most workers with the shift from goods-producing to service industries. While much has been done in reforming K-12, post secondary, and adult education systems to accommodate the changing Maine economy, it is not enough More innovation and adaptation will be required from policymakers, institutional leaders, employers and Maine people themselves

Investing in Human Capital in Difficult Times: Maine’s Competitive Skills Scholarship Program

The authors describe how the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program, administered by the Maine Department of Labor, aims both to meet the needs of Maine employers through improved access to a skilled labor force and to improve job prospects for low-income Mainers by providing access to educa­tion, training, and support. They note that many currently unemployed workers do not have the skills or experience to take advantage of the new job opportunities that are likely to arise, and that there is a demonstrated correlation between higher levels of education and training and both higher income and reduced unemployment. Preliminary data suggest a high level of satisfaction by program participants and that graduates are finding positions in high-growth, high-wage occupations

Characteristic QSO Accretion Disk Temperatures from Spectroscopic Continuum Variability

Using Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) quasar spectra taken at multiple epochs, we find that the composite flux density differences in the rest frame wavelength range 1300-6000 AA can be fit by a standard thermal accretion disk model where the accretion rate has changed from one epoch to the next (without considering additional continuum emission components). The fit to the composite residual has two free parameters: a normalizing constant and the average characteristic temperature $\bar{T}^*$. In turn the characteristic temperature is dependent on the ratio of the mass accretion rate to the square of the black hole mass. We therefore conclude that most of the UV/optical variability may be due to processes involving the disk, and thus that a significant fraction of the UV/optical spectrum may come directly from the disk.Comment: 31 pages, 8 figure

Integrated Photonics for NASA Applications

No abstract availabl

Using Labor Market Data to Improve the Job Prospects of People with Disabilities

Quality labor market data and analysis provides crucial information to job seekers, educators, and employers. For policymakers and practitioners looking to help both businesses meet their labor needs and job seekers find good jobs with advancement potential, comprehensive and timely data about local, state, and regional labor markets is important. But for many workforce providers, including those serving people with disabilities, this information can be complex, overwhelming, and hard to find. Yet, using and understanding labor market data is critical to identifying available jobs as well as determining where and what occupations are emerging for individuals seeking work. This brief provides an overview of labor market information, outlines its utility to better inform and improve state and local “to-work ” activities for people with disabilities, and identifies publicly available information sources that produce the data. Finally, it showcases a strategic partnership in the state of Maine between the state labor department and disability service providers that works to assist frontline staff in the disability employment field to understand and integrate labor market information and tools into their practice

Commentary: How Will Portland Deal with its Impending Growth

As the city looks to the future, it faces twin challenges: workforce development and housing. Careful urban design can address both issues by creating vibrant mixed-use neighborhood centers and reducing traffic congestion