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Basic Typology of Employer Challenges

Fri, 08/07/2009 - 11:28 — tcoxen@skilledw...

General Challenges

Some challenges that all employers face:	Some challenges that small and medium-sized employers face:	Some challenges that larger employers face:
Costs – resources, labor, health benefits, etc; Restrictive regulations; Global competition and the need to increase productivity for less.	No or limited Human Resource staff or processes; Limited profit margins; Limited resources to offer on-the-job training; Cannot access new markets.	Scale of workforce needs; Competition for markets; Competition for skilled labor.

Workforce-Related Challenges

Recruitment and Retention

Difficulty recruiting or retaining entry-level employees
High turnover among critical positions
High cost of recruitment and on-boarding
The aging workforce and imminent retirement of a large segment of incumbent workers
Lack of sufficient post-employment supports for entry-level workers that enable them to retain their jobs

Skills

Skill gaps – in both technical and soft skills, for both entry level and incumbent workers
Flexibility/ adaptibility of workers to adapt to new technology/ new products needed that ensure competitiveness and high productivity

Training

Shortage of training slots or lack of shortage of qualified instructors at local education and training institutions
Elimination of vocational training programs
Training programs that don’t provide workers with right skills
Limited budget to devote to on-the-job or other training
Limited time and capacity by trainees to overcome basic skills deficits as well as gain new occupation-specific skills

Other Challenges

Workers with ESL needs or limited literacy
Workers needing childcare or transportation supports
Lack of human resource capacity to manage recruitment and retention, particular for smaller businesses.
Public perception about the industry that impacts recruitment

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