Crucial Employment Skills of 2015 & Global Talent

Transcription

1 Crucial Employment Skills of 2015 & Global Talent

2 Contents Employment Skills 2015 Why should a company boost the skills of its workforce? Skills in high demand over the next 5 to 10 years

3 Employment Skills 2015 Key Facts: The changing nature of work will shape global business in % of firms plan to increase their workforce in 2015, with only 12% planning to reduce it, giving a positive balance of +38% Job growth is expected across all parts of the UK: a positive balance of +50% in Scotland; +49% in the North West; +45% in Wales; +44% in the West Midlands; +44% in the North East; +44% in the South East; +43% in London; 43% in the East Midlands; +42% in Yorkshire and Humber; +41% in the East of England; +37% in the South West and +36% in Northern Ireland Employment skills for 2015 are extremely important as the future of the UK s business competiveness is connected to the quality and skills of the current and incoming workforce. More than half of British businesses are planning to expand their workforce this year with jobs anticipated to be created in all UK regions (Scotland will have most job growth and opportunities). Professionalism, enthusiasm and a can-do attitude Professionalism, enthusiasm and a can-do attitude are the top traits which employers are looking for in new recruits this year. Although more than half of businesses situated in the UK will take on more staff this year, a lack of skills could hold back the economy. Whose responsibility is it to up-skill the workforce? A more skilled workforce generates a more motivated workforce, which means better productivity and skills for the individual employee is a matter of how much they earn. Skills are a crucial driver of social mobility; also for the wider economy, as well as international competitiveness, the availability of a highly skilled workforce is extremely significant.

4 Employment Skills 2015 Skills gap number one threat to workforce The UK s growing skills gap is now seen as the number one workforce threat to the long-term health of its economy. If a company has a skills gap this could consequently delay a product or service which then hinders productivity and profits; addressing skills shortages is therefore crucial and is now the collective responsibility of the government, parents, schools, colleges, universities, recruitment agencies and employers. Developing programs that train and educate workers not only helps with recruiting but improves employee loyalty however, employers are complaining that new recruits are also lacking in soft skills. Soft skills Technical skills can be taught more easily than soft skills, which tend to be either personal characteristics or skills that have been fine-tuned over a period of time but today employers are concerned over the shortage of recruits with the critical soft skills. For instance resilience, adaptability, intellectual agility, versatility in other words, the ability to deal with a changing situation without becoming anxious, displaying flexibility is essential. Flexibility Employees that demonstrate flexibility are generally very committed to their job role and require very little supervision or motivation to do their job to the best of their ability. Furthermore, because the workplace is changing at a rapid pace, it is an important asset for an employee to step out of their comfort zone and attempt something which they have not previously done, a can-do attitude is crucial. Companies complain that new recruits lack limited creativity in overcoming challenges this criticism tops the list; employees should bear in mind that creativity and innovation are amongst the top skills projected to increase in importance.

5 Employment Skills 2015 Communication Skills Failing to communicate effectively in a workplace leads to frustration and confusion amongst colleagues but improvement in employee morale will result from effectual communication. It is a must have skill to speak, listen, question and write with clarity because employees that demonstrate good communication skills work more efficiently in a team, also with global business transactions speedily increasing the requirement for employees to have excellent communication skills to meet global demands is rising. Teamwork, critical thinking, and communication are essential for success at work The ability to communicate information accurately is a vital work-life skill, but also other matters should not be overlooked such as speaking in a clear voice and demonstrating varied vocabulary avoiding repetitious words, it is crucial to tailor one s language to the appropriate audience, in addition the ability to listen effectively is important. A skilled communicator will get along with all colleagues with ease and without aggression, it is essential to change the tone of communication to match the task in hand this is an invaluable talent. Although companies sense that modern-day employees are increasingly looking for variety and challenge basic skills remain crucial.

6 Employment Skills 2015 Leadership Skills The death of talent is mainly evident at the very top, particular leadership shortages exist especially of people with the internationalized business skills to thrive at senior management level in global companies. Leadership qualities are valued by employers, a talented leader is one who will lead by example, constantly improve and expand a company and show self-motivation, as well as an optimistic attitude and initiative. Regardless of the scope of a company s ambition good leadership is essential to turn ambition into reality; leadership is not just about the ability to manage but having the aptitude of vision for a company and being capable to inspire employees throughout the business to appreciate that vision. Critical shortages in leadership in specific markets and disciplines will continue to make recruiting challenges worldwide Leading a dynamic workforce which is continuously changing is a challenge and the future workforce will be far more diverse (baby-boomers, generation x and millennials), as a result employee engagement will be essential. Leadership is about coping with change and good leadership has a tendency to promote more leadership in the workplace. Retaining strong leaders as well as developing leadership skills is a fundamental requirement of every company. However, part of the problem for companies is retaining the best talent to deliver leadership services effectively, as dissatisfaction with some employee-development efforts appear to fuel many early exits. How companies develop, attract and retain talent should remain high on the agenda of policymakers and business leaders for the foreseeable future.

7 Employment Skills 2015 Creativity and problem-solving skills mind-set Employees must recognise the relevance of being able to problem solve because the ability to apply both logic and creativity to solve problems is highly valued by employers. The kind of individual who works on the solution as well as the problem, will be in good stead because the skill with which an employee solves problems has a direct impact on professional effectiveness, thus the ability to problem solve is an essential part of every job. We all have to make decisions and it is crucial to appreciate that solving a problem is not merely a case of ability but is a mind-set adopting a step-by-step approach, which consequently develops a positive attitude. Time Management Time management is important in all jobs and especially when deadlines are approaching, therefore having the ability to prioritise the most relevant tasks is crucial and devoting more time to the more important tasks - thus being a good juggler and having a natural aptitude to multitask several projects at once without getting flustered is vital, as this reduces stress and maintains optimism. Cultural Fit Our research also indicates that the vast majority of employers regard cultural fit as extremely relevant as more and more companies are focusing on attrition rates. First impression characteristics of a person are enormously decisive because an interviewer can evaluate a person within seconds from their general appearance to the way they stand to the grip of their handshake and good presentation is the most basic yet excellent career advice, which an applicant may apply.

8 Why should a company boost the skills of its workforce? G7 countries represent the world s largest industrialized economies The UK economy is among the fastest growth rate in the G7 nations (the G7 countries represent the world s largest industrialized economies) with 1.2 million jobs created last year and employment set to grow in every region of the UK this year (2015). However, cementing Britain s reputation in the world as one of the best places to do business has to be a top priority for all businesses this year and as the election countdown accelerates politicians must not to take their eyes off the economy. By boosting skills companies will see their level of productivity increase and business will play its part by improving competitiveness, in addition furthering opportunities for young people by way of apprenticeships and more training for older workers is crucial. Brainpower, organisation and innovation Industries and emerging markets thrive on brainpower, organisation and innovation. The UK must consistently make new discoveries and innovate continually in order to assist the most sophisticated industries. It is essential to design new products and deliver efficient services to compete and also serve world markets. More and more companies in the UK are appreciating the relevance of innovation to gain competitive advantage, this is because firms which innovate tend to last longer and expand thus increase income. Although the UK s young people are technically savvy our education system is not accommodating their talents. It is important to learn from Nordic countries and get the basics right first time in primary school and then provide a personal menu of tailored learning plans for all year olds offering high quality academic and vocational A levels, and encouraging young people to mix and match, depending on what is right for them but more crucially where there is a demand for skills and employment.

9 Skills in high demand over the next 5 to 10 years Digital skills Digital business skills (50.6%) Understanding of corporate IT software and systems (40.1%) Digital design skills (35.2%) Ability to use social media and Web 2.0 (29.3%) Agile thinking skills Ability to consider and prepare for multiple scenarios (54.8%) Innovation (46.0%) Dealing with complexity and ambiguity (42.9%) Managing paradoxes, balancing opposing views (40.9%) Ability to see the big picture (15.3%) Interpersonal and communication skills Co-creativity and brainstorming (48.3%) Relationship building (with customers) (47.4%) Teaming (including virtual teaming) (44.9%) Collaboration (30.4%) Oral and written communication (29.0%) Global operating skills Ability to manage diverse employees (49.1%) Understanding international markets (45.7%) Ability to work in multiple overseas locations (37.5%) Foreign language skills (36.1%) Cultural sensitivity (31.5%) Source Oxford Economics

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