92 Percent Think Strengthening The Education System Should Be Top Priority
As children head to the classroom this back-to-school season, an Adecco Workplace Insights survey found 64 percent of respondents agree that the U.S. educational system is not providing workers with the necessary skills to be prepared for the jobs of the future. Perhaps this is why over 9 in 10 employed adults (92 percent) agree that strengthening the education system should be a top priority for the U.S. in the next decade.
Further, over half of those surveyed, 56 percent, believe America is unprepared to compete in a global economy.
With the presidential campaign trail to campuses across the country underway and discussions around increased competition for talent from emerging markets such as China and India, education and training is top of mind for many adults. The survey found that most believe the onus to correct the education gap should be on U.S. companies; with nearly three-quarters (76 percent) agreeing that today’s U.S. employers do not invest enough in training and development to keep the U.S. workforce competitive with other countries.
Some other high-level findings discovered in the study include:
* Women are more likely than men, (61 percent women vs. 52 percent men) to agree that the U.S. cannot compete on a global front.
* 4 in 5 employed adults (83 percent) agree that corporations should play a larger role in helping to strengthen education and training in the U.S.
“Companies cannot wait for the education reforms to take place nor expect our ability to remain competitive to continue without taking matters into their own hands,” says Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer for Adecco North America. “While it is vital for U.S. companies to continue to train their staff on new technologies and methodologies as they arise; it is also just as vital for companies to educate staff about changing market conditions and global pressures – topics organizations in other countries are working into their own education and training systems.”
Kenny recommends companies not only focus on continually training staff but also develop an internal training program to help employees understand the global landscape, realize the challenges presented to them, and empower them so that they understand the necessary tools or skills to compete on a global stage.
Further, Kenny recommends that employees take an active role in their own education and training. “According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs requiring science, engineering or technical training will increase 24 percent between 2004 and 2014 to 6.3 million,” says Kenny. “Employees should think about their own careers, where they will be in 2014 and where additional training could take them. This is an era of exponential change and job candidates must take an active role in staying current on topics that are meaningful to their career goals.”
For workers looking to re-define their future goals, Kenny offers the following tips:
* Become An Advocate Of Life-long Learning – Education is not something that should be finished when formal education is complete. To stay abreast of the rapid change that exists in our society, workers must come to think of learning as a life-long process.
* Get Involved – whether you are looking to your own career or that of your children, don’t wait for someone to provide the solution. Learn what resources exist within your business or community that may be available to you.
* Look To Your Past To Help With Your Future – Many schools are offering alumni courses to help workers stay current in their fields. Check with your alumni association to determine if your school offers alumni classes. If not, contact the alumni office and suggest that they start.
* Information Is Out There – If you don’t have time for additional classes, remember that the Internet now offers us a wealth of information right at our desktop. To stay apprised of events and changes in your field subscribe to e-newsletters and read the blogs on your industry.
Survey Methodology:
This survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Adecco NA between February 12 and February 14, 2007 among 3,434 U.S. adults 18 years of age or older. Figures for region, age within gender, education, household income and race/ethnicity were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.
With a pure probability sample of 3,434, one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 3 percentage points. The sampling error for the sub-sample of employed adults (n= 2,321) is +/- 3 percentages points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
ADECCO WORLDWIDE:
Adecco S.A. is a Global Fortune 500 company and the world leader in workforce solutions. The Adecco Group network connects over 700,000 associates with business clients each day through its network of over 33,000 employees and 6,600 offices in over 70 countries and territories around the world. Registered in Switzerland, and managed by a multinational team with expertise in markets spanning the globe, the Adecco Group delivers an unparalleled range of flexible staffing and career resources to corporate clients and qualified associates.
ADECCO NORTH AMERICA:
Adecco is the workforce solutions leader in the United States and Canada, with a comprehensive service offering that includes temporary and contract staffing, permanent recruitment, outplacement and career services, training and consulting. In addition to its core competency in administrative, clerical and light industrial staffing, Adecco operates the following specialty divisions: Engineering & Technical; Finance & Accounting; Information Technology; Medical & Science; Legal; Human Capital Solutions; Government Solutions; and Transportation.
Adecco S.A. is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH001213860) and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange with trading on virt-x (SWX/VIRT-X: ADEN) and Euronext Paris - Premier Marché (EURONEXT: ADE).
Additional information is available at the company’s website at www.adeccousa.com.
ABOUT HARRIS INTERACTIVE:
Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world’s largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com.
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