As the economy stabilizing itself more and more each day, the ongoing skills gap discussion heats up. Inc Magazine recently posted an interesting article on the current Skills Gap and mentioned some of the theories as to why “10 million unemployed. Yet employers’ No. 1 problem is finding the right talent.”
To quote some of the many stats listed in the article, one, in particular, was Inc.’s 5000 CEOs survey which stated, “76 percent said that finding qualified people was a major problem.” Finding skilled trade workers is one of the biggest issues for employers due to lack of apprenticeships, according to the article. “Since 2003, the number of apprentices has declined sharply, partly because of cost-cutting.” In 2003, there were 488,927 apprenticeships and roughly ten years later there are over 200,000 less offered. But that is specifically in the trade sector, what about other industries?
In 2013 a survey on the talent shortage was conducted and some of the results included, “What is the One Job Employers have the Most Difficulty Filling?” Essentially, it confirmed, based on the Americas need, much of what the Inc article referenced about technicians and skilled workers as some of their most challenging positions to fill. See the entire list in order of difficulty below.
Americas: Top 10 Jobs Employers are Having Difficulty Filling
- Technicians
- Sales Representatives
- Engineers
- Skilled Trades Workers
- Production Operators
- Accounting & Finance Staff
- Secretaries, Pas, Admin Assistants and Office Support Staff
- Drivers
- Laborers
- Management/Executives
The top four reasons for the lack of talent for 2013 was lack of technical competencies(hard skills), lack of available applicants/no applicants, lack of workplace competencies (soft skills) and applicants looking for more pay than offered.
Inc. had mentioned in their piece that “employers are too picky.” This may be the case for some of the positions listed above, but the fault could lie on both sides of the spectrum. Is it possible that the employers and candidates both want too much and not able to meet in the middle? Either way, it leaves the industry with 3.9 million vacant jobs and the staggering number of 10 million unemployed.
What can an employer do if this is the case?
Take a realistic look at the position you’re searching for. If you’re expecting the “white elephant” like the article suggest, you may be dismissing other great options. Also, another suggestion is just as simple: Find a reputable recruiting partner to assess your hiring challenges to find quick and efficient solutions. Some of the reasons as to why you’re unable to find the right fit may surprise you. Once companies take a closer look at what’s ailing their hiring process, they may realize it’s not so far of a gap after all.
