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IRVINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF SKILLS GAP ANALYSIS FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES
Research Reveals Demand for Greater Communication, Leadership and Other Soft Skills in Today’s Workforce
IRVINE, Calif.—October 27, 2014— The Irvine Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Vitality Council (EVC), announced the findings from a skills ‘gap’ analysis designed to identify what training and skills are needed for future workers to compete for jobs within Irvine’s advanced manufacturing sector. According to the study, HR and recruiting executives from local companies — ranging from aerospace, mechanical engineering, pharmaceutical to software design — revealed the top factors in the gap between what the candidate brings to the job and what the position requires.
The survey identified that the lack of candidates’ practical real-life job experience and soft skills, including communication, team work, project management, problem solving and leadership traits, make open positions more challenging to fill. The majority of companies interviewed stated that most of the jobs require at least a four-year degree with accompanying, relevant technical training. Between 80 to 100 percent of positions require technical skills, and respondents cited that their ideal candidate will have three to seven years of hands-on experience. Yet, only half of the responding companies said they have internships or apprenticeship programs in place or connections with colleges and universities. Continue reading
