Increasing workforce productivity will better prepare Hawaii

Increasing workforce productivity, as much or more than job creation, may do more to prepare the islands for the future—no matter what happens

By Tom Brandt

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 28, 2012

~~<p>Developing community consensus on a preferred future is desirable if possible — for example, slower growth based on mostly high-spending visitors and other environmentally friendly industries that create more good jobs.</p>
<p>But the unexpected changes we've seen since statehood indicate more contingency planning may be wise in the future. In other words, if our preferred future doesn't materialize due to an increasing number of factors beyond local control, what — if anything — can we do to maximize the benefits AND minimize the problems of either more rapid or too little future growth?</p>
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Developing community consensus on a preferred future is desirable if possible — for example, slower growth based on mostly high-spending visitors and other environmentally friendly industries that create more good jobs.

But the unexpected changes we've seen since statehood indicate more contingency planning may be wise in the future. In other words, if our preferred future doesn't materialize due to an increasing number of factors beyond local control, what — if anything — can we do to maximize the benefits AND minimize the problems of either more rapid or too little future growth? Login for more...