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That was the consensus of day-long conference of more than, 200 industry, education and government leaders, brought together yesterday by Springfield Technical Community College National Center for Telecommunications Technologies.
"There is a bottleneck for economic growth. It is human resources," said Craig L. Moore, a University of Massachusetts professor and editor of "Benchmarks" a quarterly journal on the state economy.
Keynote speaker Duncan Moore, associate director of technology the Clinton administration said the Massachusetts situation typifies the national picture.
"We're concerned about what the work force will be in a couple of decades," Duncan Moore said.
The positive news about this state's economy is the phenomenal growth of telecommunications.
This industry, which now brings $44 billion in revenue annually, has seen a 290 percent increase in revenue in the Past three years' according to Michael Harrison, executive director of Massachusetts Telecommunications Council, which represents 316 businesses.
Harrison defines the telecommunications industry as those businesses involved in aspects of interactive communications, such as telephone service, computer networks, Internet service and related supplies, software and equipment.
At any given time recently Harrison said, there have been up to 1,500-Massachusetts job openings in these fields, mostly for technicians, and the demand for skilled workers is growing.
Efforts are being made to increase interest among students in college, high school and younger grades in careers in this growing field.
"We are trying to capture students at all levels, said Gina Tziavas, director of work force development for Massachusetts Telecommunications Council.
At STCC, economic changes have prompted a rethinking of the way technology subjects are taught, said Gary J. Mullett, a professor of wireless communications.
"Technology has marched on," Mullett said. "Now industry is telling us they want people with good communication skills who can work in teams and go on the Internet and research a new product."
Technicians who used to carry screwdrivers and other mechanical tools to install, test and maintain equipment are now more likely to carry laptop computers which are used to diagnose equipment problems, Mullett said.
"It is getting more and more difficult for people with just a high-school degree to get into these fields. They really need the two years of college," he said.
Gordon F. Snyder, Jr., a professor of computer networking at STCC said, "If we don't change with industry, they are not going to wait for us."
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