Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.trends From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: trends Mon, Apr 6 1992 Date: Mon, 6 Apr 92 05:43:33 EDT Message-ID: 04-06 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update April 6, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network WORKERS COULD BE CERTIFIED: Employers one day could require workers to have certificates proving their job skills. Such a program, supported by labor and education officials, would be voluntary and target workers with no college degrees. Labor officials say the idea is the make the work force more competitive by improving the quality and productivity of workers. Other countries are pondering similar plans. (For more, see special Certification package below.) DOCTORS AIM FOR PRIMARY CARE: The number of new doctors choosing primary care over specialties seems to be increasing, the Association of American Medical Colleges says. A study of medical graduates' choices shows 58% chose primary care, reversing a 10-year trend of increasing specialization. In 1989, only 26.3% of graduates surveyed entered primary care training, down from a peak 37.3% in 1981. WOMEN TIP SCALES OF JUSTICE: When Hillary Clinton entered Yale Law School in 1970, she was one of 88 women at that school. According to Yale Law School, 42% enrolled at its school in 1990-1991 were women, up from 15% in Clinton's first year. The American Bar Association says at its ABA-approved schools enrollment was 43% women in 1990-1991, compared with 9% in 1970-1971. AUTO EXECS ARE LEAVING: Chief executives and other senior managers at Mercedes, Volkswagen, Honda, Nissan, Porsche, Ford and Chrysler have announced plans to leave in the past four weeks. Now add Toyota. Friday it said its U.S. president and executive vice president will leave this year. A tough U.S. climate, looming unification of the European auto market and a slowdown in Japan are taking a toll. U.S. CARS SELL, JAPANESE DON'T: An increase in truck sales helped boost major automakers' sales in the USA 2.6% in March from March 1991. Chrysler sales rose 14% from a year earlier. Toyota sales rose 10%. At its Lexus luxury division, sales jumped 90%. Ford sales rose 8%, GM 1%, Mitsubishi less than 1%. Mazda sales fell 33%; Honda, 21%; and Nissan, 14%, a sign the Buy American movement may be hurting Japanese-car sales. LOOKS TO MIMIC EUROPE: U.S. designers are presenting their fall collections this week in New York. Looks are expected to parallel the styles seen in the European shows a few weeks ago: Longer hemlines, narrower silhouettes, somber colors and a '40s feel. Then there's the unavoidable return of platform shoes that will make it even onto minimalist Calvin Klein's runway Tuesday morning. SPECIAL WILL BE ON ECOTOURS: There's been increased interest lately in ecotours - travel that is environmentally correct. Sam Waterston, the star of the television show "I'll Fly Away," will be the host for a special on ecotourism on TBS May 17 at 10 p.m. EDT:7 p.m. PDT. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON CERTIFICATION: PROGRAM `JUST STARTING OUT': The idea of certifying workers is "just starting out," according to John Rowling, an assistant secretary of labor from Australia on loan to the Labor Department. The certification program would be designed to upgrade the skills of newly hired workers and workers already on the job. Some high schools are already making efforts to "guarantee" the skills of graduates. CERTIFICATES WOULD BE PASSPORTS: Labor and education officials said the proposed program would be a way of assuring employers that workers have the skills needed to do the job. Some companies independently have started skills training programs of their own. Certificates would act as "passports" when workers change jobs by giving their new employers confidence that they have the skills required. HEARINGS TO BE HELD: The Labor and Education departments will hold hearings around the country April 14-30 on the proposal. Australia's John Rowling says 75% of American children don't go on to college and don't have a certificate or other documentation to prove their skills. Gary Moore of the National Alliance of Business said there were some concerns among the 3,000 member businesses about a U.S. standard. Trends & Marketing Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM