Workers Cry Out for Technology Training

Turnover among Techies: Fairfax County is situated in the heart of technology-rich Northern Virginia, providing thousands of U.S. jobs and fueling key technological innovation. But workers in the heavily populated suburban county near Washington appear impatient to ply their wares. According to a survey by Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and Ipsos Public Affairs, nearly 40 percent of workers across the region’s labor force would consider switching jobs for a chance to learn the latest technologies. Those working in professional services are the most likely to cite technology as crucial to their individual creativity and job productivity, although 52 percent of manufacturing employees also would contemplate leaving for another employer, according to the survey of 1,004 employed Americans. Among demographic groups, men and younger workers attach greater importance to the issue than women and older workers do. Also, nearly two-thirds of Hispanic workers polled offered similar views.