Report: Skills Gap Increasing in Higher Ed-to-Business Talent Pipelines
Employers are struggling to find college graduates with the necessary skills
for their jobs, according to a new report from the Human Capital Institute (HCI).
The report, "Collaboration U: Business and University Partnerships To Secure
Talent Pipelines," is the latest issue of HCI's Talent Pulse quarterly research
e-book, which examines how universities and companies collaborate to ensure that
students acquire the skills and knowledge required for their chosen careers.
The report is based on a 28-question email survey of 212 HCI members, which was
conducted this spring.
According to HCI, employers are encountering a "significant and constantly
growing skills gap in today's workforce," and "there appears to be a disconnect
between higher education institutions that are preparing the next generation of
workers and the employers who expect to hire them." As a result of this
challenge, companies are focusing their efforts on developing the skills of
existing employees rather than hiring new graduates to fill positions. The
report examines this issue to identify specific areas where the skills gap
exists and the challenges employers are facing when hiring college
graduates.
Key findings from the report include:
- Only 22 percent of respondents said they have a strong talent pipeline for critical
positions;
- 71 percent of respondents indicated they agree or strongly agree with the statement,
"Our collaboration with colleges and universities strengthens our talent
pipeline"; and
- 37 percent said they agree or strongly agree with the statement, "Students in our
country are prepared to enter the workforce."
Although most respondents use indirect methods of involvement with
educational institutions, such as career fairs and on-campus recruiters, many
see the value of direct involvement, such as hosting innovation competitions
for students and employee-student mentorships. Employers that report having a
strong talent pipeline already say they focus on building awareness of their
brand on campus, even when they're not actively recruiting, and they
communicate their needs for skills to students and schools.
The full report, "Collaboration U: Business and University Partnerships to
Secure Talent Pipelines," is available as a free PDF download from the HCI
site.
About the Author
Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].