Population and Family Planning Manpower and Training. An Occasional Paper of the Population Council.

Growing action for population programs has directed attention to the question of whether there is sufficient manpower trained to direct and operate such programs. This study was undertaken to provide estimates of training and manpower requirements for population-related activities. Emphasis is placed primarily on the operation and development of training programs and institutions for population and family planning. The field is broad and multidisciplinary, and investments in training programs and institutions require careful phasing and long-term commitments. The problem of population and family planning implies a series of value judgments which lead to estimates of need rather than demand. This report focuses on the training requirements needed to augment the supply of professionals and paraprofessionals to meet anticipated needs in population studies and family planning administration, research, and training programs in the United States. Two major groups of individuals involved in population programs are demographers and population specialists. These programs also require persons from various medical and social science areas. Estimated manpower needs and training programs and requirements are detailed in this report. (MF)