A recent study by General Assembly, a leader in tech talent and training solutions, reveals a widespread concern about the readiness of today’s entry-level employees. Both employees and executives expressed doubts about the preparedness of new hires, citing gaps in soft skills, technical expertise, and job readiness training. The findings suggest a need for systemic change to address workforce readiness.
- Key Findings on Workforce Readiness
- Perceptions of Entry-Level Employees:
- Only 48% of employees and 12% of mid-level executives believe entry-level hires are well-prepared.
- Over a quarter of VPs/directors (27%) and 23% of employed adults would not hire today’s entry-level workers.
- Skill Gaps Identified:
- Soft skills are the top shortcoming, cited by 49% of executives and 37% of employees.
- Other concerns include attitude issues (28% of executives, 30% of employees) and inadequate technical skills (13% of executives, 16% of employees).
- Gen Z respondents also highlighted soft skills as a major gap (40%).
- Perceptions of Entry-Level Employees:
- Employer Training Shortcomings
- Insufficient Training:
- 33% of executives and 26% of employees feel employers don’t provide adequate training for new hires.
- 19% of employees reported little to no training from their employers.
- Underutilized Resources:
- 41% of executives stated their companies don’t offer learning stipends or training budgets.
- Of those who do, 43% reported these stipends are rarely or never used.
- Insufficient Training:
- Responsibility for Job Readiness
- Shared Accountability:
- Most respondents believe job readiness is a shared responsibility:
- Employees (64% of employees, 74% of executives).
- Employers (63% of employees, 66% of executives).
- Educational institutions (53% of employees, 73% of executives).
- UK respondents were more likely to assign responsibility to the government (24% of employees, 10% of Americans).
- Most respondents believe job readiness is a shared responsibility:
- Shared Accountability:
- Proposed Solutions for Workforce Readiness
- Evidence-Based Training Approaches:
- Jourdan Hathaway recommends technology apprenticeships and skills training programs that simulate real work environments to bridge gaps.
- Collaboration Across Stakeholders:
- Lupe Colangelo emphasizes the need for businesses, governments, and educational institutions to modernize workforce readiness systems.
- Evidence-Based Training Approaches:
The study underscores the urgency of addressing entry-level employee preparedness by fostering collaboration among stakeholders and implementing robust training programs. By modernizing workforce readiness strategies, companies can ensure that employees are equipped with the skills needed to succeed in today’s dynamic job market.
