This week, the ManpowerGroup released its annual Talent Shortage Survey for 2015 – a decade after the survey was first conducted. The report includes data representing the input of more than 41,000 hiring managers around the globe on the issues related to talent acquisition, skills training and workforce development. The 2015 survey demonstrates the depth and breadth of the skills gap affecting business and industry around the globe, and underscores the need for greater emphasis on CTE to train the next generation of talented professionals in high-need industries.
The survey data show that the number of global employers facing difficulty filling jobs has increased for the sixth consecutive year, to 38 percent. Furthermore, skilled trades professionals such as mechanics, electricians and chefs were listed as the hardest positions to fill for the fourth year in a row. Other positions listed as the most challenging included engineers, technicians, accounting and finance staff and IT staff – all of which are directly connected to high-quality CTE programs, as demonstrated by ACTE’s Sector Sheets. Survey respondents also cited a lack of technical competencies (34 percent) and lack of workplace competencies (17 percent) as key reasons for difficulty filling available jobs.
The challenges posed by the skills gap have serious ramifications for employers’ ability to meet strategic goals and reach their full potential. Some 42 percent of employers stated that these issues resulted in a reduced ability to serve their clients, and that it negatively impacts their competitiveness and productivity. In addition, 25 percent also noted that it reduced their workforce’s creativity and innovation, which are critical to driving growth.
These trends are mirrored by data specific to the United States, with minor exceptions – 32 percent of American employers have noted difficulties in filling jobs, and additional CTE related fields including nurses were included on the list of the most difficult positions to fill. By increasing access to high quality CTE for America’s students, we can help to overcome these skills gaps to ensure our workforce is well equipped and our economy continues to grow.
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