Historically, national security includes the strength of our nation’s infrastructure, the foundation upon which the continuous growth of our society depends. This includes our strong societal and moral codes, the rule of law, stable government, social, political, and economic institutions, and leadership. Also included are our nation’s schools and educational programs to ensure a knowledgeable citizenry and lifelong learning—a must for a democracy. Our nation’s strength also requires investments in science, engineering, research and development, and technological leadership. We cannot be strong without a viable way to power our cities, feed ourselves, and move from one place to another. Most of all, a strong economy is an essential ingredient of a global superpower. Without it, we will lose our superpower status, and quickly.
National security must include a healthy market-based economy, with a strong base of globally competitive products and services that produce jobs. This economy must include sound government policies to promote responsible choices and reduce our debt, and grand strategies for energy and environmental sustainability, science and technology leadership (at least in some areas), human capital capabilities, manufacturing, and the industrial base. And these are not the only components.
National security goes to the very core of how we define who we are as a people and a free society. It concerns how we view our world responsibilities.
Economic security is a major element of national security, even as borders are less important than ever. No matter how we look at national security, there can be no question of the need to include the economic viability of our nation. Without capital, there is no business; without business, there is no profit; without profit, there are no jobs. And without jobs, there are no taxes, and there is no military capability.
Futhermore, “A Well-educated Workforce: Vital Component of National and Economic Security” write Myra Howze Shiplett, Wendy Russell, Anne M. Khademian, and Lenora Peters Gant.
he Nation’s critical national security human capital needs are threefold:
- candidates who are well versed in information technology (IT). Because this is estimated to be one of the top five Federal hiring requirements, that need will translate into 800,000 new IT hires by 2018.
- a diverse workforce that looks like the Nation
- increased supply of critical skills related to fluency in foreign languages and expertise in foreign cultures.
The Alliance for Excellent Education estimates the Nation loses $3.7 billion each year because students are not learning basic needed skills, including $1.4 billion spent to provide remedial education for students who have recently completed high school.10 From the taxpayers’ standpoint, remediation is paying for the same education twice.
The alliance estimates that if the 1.2 million high school dropouts from the Class of 2008 had earned their diplomas instead of dropping out, the U.S. economy would have seen an additional $319 billion in wages over these students’ lifetimes. The alliance also estimates that the country could expect to lose well over $300 billion in potential earnings in 2009 as well, due to dropouts from the Class of 2008. If this annual pattern is allowed to continue, more than 12 million students will drop out of school during the next decade at a cost to the Nation of more than $3 trillion.
A vibrant, growing economy that provides jobs for America’s citizens is an essential component of our national security. A critical success factor for such an economy is a well-educated workforce, equipped to deal with the complexities of the 21st century. We all have a stake in assuring that our children and our neighbor’s children are well educated. The security of our nation demands this commitment.
Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor from (Full Report):
via Economic Security: Neglected Dimension of National Security?
Job Market Monitor 
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