摘要：The economic health of many rural towns and regions depends on their ability to maintain acompetitive manufacturing sector. In a recent ERS survey, rural manufacturers reported that,more than any other factor, the quality of local labor hindered their competitiveness. Otherfrequently cited local problems included State and local taxes, environmental regulations,the attractiveness of the area to managers and professionals, and the quality of local schools.The extent of these problems varies by region more than along a rural-urban dimension.Labor quality problems were more likely to be reported by manufacturers who paid below-average wages, hired less-educated workers, and used advanced technologies. Advanced-technology users in counties that specialized in manufacturing or had 2-year colleges wereless likely to report labor quality problems.
