Editorial: Education means jobs in Nevada

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A visiting Taiwanese delegation had a hard lesson for Las Vegas: Improve your education or suffer the economic consequences.

The delegation was in town last week exploring the possibilities of locating electronic industry in Southern Nevada. The concept of high-tech, low-polluting plants moving to Las Vegas is exciting. Not only would it produce more jobs, it would widen the state's industrial base, reducing wild swings in the economy.

Planners have long advocated a greater variety of businesses and industries in Nevada. Dependence on a single type of industry -- in Nevada's case, gaming -- can spell trouble in economic downtowns. Witness the recession in early 1992 when state revenues dried up and cutbacks in services were necessary.

The Taiwanese businessmen are attracted to Nevada for several reasons. It's close to major markets on the West Coast. It has business-friendly taxes and the relatively mild climate makes the area accessible year round.

Unfortunately, Nevada lacks a reservoir of qualified manpower that electronic plants need to stay competitive. High-tech industries require far more than assembly persons. They need well-trained engineers and top-ranked universities to keep them supplied with expertise.

The Silicon Valley has ready access to Stanford University or the University of California, Berkley. More than 10,000 engineers at Taiwanese plants in California were trained at those universities.

Needless to say, Nevada is far behind the curve in training such a workforce. Electronics companies locating here may be forced to maintain contacts with relatively remote universities.

The Taiwanese delegation has sent an alarm through the state's educational community on the critical relationship between knowledge and the economy. Regardless of whether the delegation chooses not to locate here, upgrading public instruction and institutions of higher learning should become a priority.

Nevada cannot afford to fall further behind other states in the race to attract business and industry. It must commit the necessary resources to be competitive. Otherwise, our economy will lag behind other states.