This is an indictment of current management and education practices that are creating a shortage of skilled labour. The march of technological development and globalisation continues to put pressure on all national economies, bringing opportunity for some and marginalisation for others. Nations will need to confront two coming economic shocks: a rise in the retired population, and a shortage of young, well-educated people to fill a rising number of highly-skilled, technology-related jobs. Ed Gordon marshals vast amounts of data to illustrate how these trends are quickly converging, creating a labour vacuum - with potentially disastrous consequences. In "The 2010 Meltdown", Gordon sounds a wake-up call to anyone with a stake in our economic future. Beyond the demographic issues, he notes that such cultural factors as Wall Street's obsession with short-term results, and the neglect of maths and science skills at school, are contributing to a fundamental mismatch between labour supply and demand. But the news is not all grim. Gordon highlights innovative initiatives in training, education, and community development in the U.S. and around the world that can serve as models for positive action, and he outlines a plan for reversing the destructive trends before we reach a crucial crossroads by the year 2010. Ultimately, "The 2010 Meltdown" is an optimistic book about social change, setting an agenda for reforms in education, policy, and business investment that will promote economic freedom, renewal, and prosperity. It addresses such important issues as employment, migration, and the state of education in developed countries and offers practical solutions and examples of innovative practices in the public and private sectors.