Gates didn't say whether the tenure-based pay system and job security favored by unions plays a role, but he wants to figure out a fix.

FORBES: Magazine Article

"Teachers are already suffering from pay freezes, job losses and increases in pension contributions - they now face pay cuts due to a policy based on ideology not evidence, " said National Union of Teachers' leader Christine Blower.

BBC: Michael Gove pushes for performance pay for teachers

But increasingly, says Jenny Sutton of the Hong Kong-based RFP Company, clients are refusing to pay for junior staff's on-the-job training.

ECONOMIST: Consulting bounces back