What Would You Be Cloning?
2012 Revisited
I shared this information with you almost 12 years ago. So how’s it going?
For a number of years I was Program Manager of a federally funded workforce and economic development initiative that benefited the nine (9) Finger Lakes counties. I had the opportunity to interact with business owners, business leaders, educators, innovators, economic development agencies and political leaders at a variety of levels.
Business leaders bemoaned a lack of qualified workers to pick from. Educators asked what businesses needed. Political representatives wanted to fund and support “sure winner programs”. The business community had difficulty articulating what the future skill needs would be. Educators were faced with the dilemma that technical information was doubling every 2 years and beginning with 2010, was predicted to double every 72 hrs. (Which meant that half of what a technical degree student learned in their first two years could be outdated by their junior year.) In frustration business leaders have been heard to utter: “What I’d like to do is just clone Joe.”
The challenges for employers with “workforce” issues is not going to go away. Employers MUST find ways to deal with the new reality:
The fastest growing age group for using the internet is …… 2-5 yr olds (they will be digital-friendly like we cannot fathom).
For those workers entering the workforce in the last decade, on average, they will have 10-14 jobs by the time they are 38. Their workplace behaviors will be influenced by this exceptional rate of movement, with shaped behaviors that employers must be ready to reinforce or reshape.
Based on 2005 data, 41% of the companies around the world were having trouble hiring the people they need. You have not been alone.
The Top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 did not exist in 2004. That reality is not going to change.
According to a government study, Human Capital represents as much as 77% of total expenses.
Strange thing heard at work since then:
“So, how many jobs are you up to? I’m not sure.”
“I can’t afford to work.”
“So, why did you quit your job? I don’t know.”
So, your job has gotten easier. Right?