shrm survey findings: changing employee skills and education requirements—changes in the workforce...

SHRM Survey Findings: Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements—Changes in the Workforce

October 3, 2012

In collaboration with and commissioned by Achieve

2

• This is the fifth part of a series of SHRM/Achieve survey findings titled “Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements.” These results look at changes in the workforce.

• The following nine industries were included in the sample. Overall results are reported first, followed by industry-specific results for the following industries:

Construction, mining, oil and gas

Federal government

Finance

Health

High-tech

Manufacturing

Nonprofessional services

Professional services

State and local government

Introduction

SHRM/Achieve Survey: Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements—Changes in the Workforce©SHRM 2012

3

• How are organizations different now than they were 10 years ago? Overall, organizations cite several key changes. The most commonly chosen differences across all industries are increased staff size 53%), increased number of jobs with specific technical requirements (51%), higher education level requirements for most jobs (46%), increased employee diversity (45%) and fewer entry-level jobs (31%).

• What industries were most likely to report that higher education levels are required today in their industries compared with a decade ago? Health (54%), manufacturing (52%), state/local government (48%) and federal government (46%) were most likely to report higher education requirements today than those needed 10 years ago.

• What industries were most likely to report that they have more jobs with specific skills requirements today compared with a decade ago? High-tech (73%), manufacturing (56%), construction, mining, oil and gas (56%), state/local government (53%) and health (51%) were most likely to report an increase in the number of jobs with specific technical requirements today compared with 10 years ago.

• What changes do organizations predict will affect them in the next three to five years? The changes organizations are most likely to forecast are an increased number of jobs with specific technical requirements (60%), increased staff size (55%), higher education level requirements for most jobs (50%), increased employee diversity (49%) and more jobs related to science, technology, engineering and math (31%).

• What industries are most likely to predict a need for higher education levels for most jobs? Manufacturing (59%), health (56%), high-tech (51%), state/local government (51%) and professional services (49%) were most likely to predict a need for higher education levels for most jobs in three to five years compared with today.

• What industries are most likely to predict more jobs with specific technical requirements? High-tech (79%), manufacturing (71%) and construction, mining, oil and gas (69%) were most likely to predict that there will be more jobs with specific technical requirements in their industry in three to five years compared with today.

Key Findings


4

• What education levels do organizations believe will experience the greatest increase in demand over the next three to give years? Organizations across industries are most likely to report an increased need for bachelor’s degree holders (55%), advance degree (e.g., master’s, MBA, Ph.D., M.D., J.D.) holders (41%) and specific postsecondary certificates/credentials (32%).

• What industries were most likely to report an increase in the need for employees holding the following education credentials?– Advanced degrees: High-tech (56%), health (51%) and professional services (49%) were

most likely to predict an increased need for employees with advanced degrees.– Bachelor’s degrees: Health (62%), manufacturing (58%), construction, mining, oil and gas

(57%), finance (57%) and high-tech (56%) were most likely to predict an increased need for employees with bachelor’s degrees.

– Associate’s degrees: Manufacturing (36%), state/local government (31%) and health (29%) were most likely to predict an increased need for employees with associate’s degrees.

– Specific postsecondary certificates/credentials: Health (40%), manufacturing (39%) and construction, mining, oil and gas (36%) were most likely to predict an increased need for employees with specific postsecondary certificates/credentials.

– High school diplomas: Manufacturing (26%), construction, mining, oil and gas (24%) and nonprofessional services (24%) were most likely to predict an increased need for employees with at least a high school diploma.

Key Findings


5

All Industri

es(n =

3,135)

Construction, Mining,

Oil and Gas(n = 311)

Federal Governme

nt(n = 173)

Finance(n = 336)

Health(n = 415)

High-tech(n = 289)

Manufac-turing

(n = 382)

Non-professional Services(n = 224)

Professional

Services(n = 472)

State/Local

Government

(n = 533)

Increased staff size 53% 58% 39% 63% 65% 58% 45% 51% 56% 40%

More jobs with specific technical requirements

51% 56% 43% 40% 51% 73% 56% 31% 49% 53%

Higher education level required for most jobs

46% 39% 46% 44% 54% 43% 52% 33% 44% 48%

Increased employee diversity

45% 41% 47% 45% 45% 44% 44% 49% 47% 47%

Fewer entry-level jobs 31% 22% 41% 25% 28% 42% 31% 17% 37% 31%

Decreased staff size 29% 24% 44% 21% 21% 18% 36% 30% 25% 45%

Think about your organization’s workforce today compared with 10 years ago. What are the differences?

Note: Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple response options.


6

All Industri

es(n =

3,135)

Construction, Mining,

Oil and Gas(n = 311)

Federal Governme

nt(n = 173)

Finance(n = 336)

Health(n = 415)

High-tech(n = 289)

Manufac-turing

(n = 382)

Non-professio

nal Services(n = 224)

Professional

Services(n = 472)

State/Local

Government

(n = 533)

More jobs related to science, technology, engineering and math

26% 30% 25% 14% 20% 58% 36% 10% 28% 19%

More jobs that are service-oriented

23% 19% 15% 33% 37% 20% 8% 40% 22% 20%

Greater reliance on temporary or contingent workers

21% 18% 21% 15% 14% 21% 38% 22% 17% 20%

More entry-level jobs 18% 20% 8% 26% 18% 12% 21% 26% 15% 14%

Lower education level required for most jobs

1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%

Other 3% 1% 5% 4% 6% 2% 2% 2% 2% 6%

Not sure 8% 9% 9% 6% 6% 10% 8% 9% 10% 5%

Think about your organization’s workforce today compared with 10 years ago. What are the differences? (continued)

Note: Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple response options.SHRM/Achieve Survey: Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements—Changes in the Workforce

©SHRM 2012

7

Think about your organization’s workforce in the next three to five years. Compared with today, what are the differences?


All Industries

(n = 3,414)

Construction,

Mining, Oil

and Gas

(n = 345)

Federal

Government

(n = 190)

Finance

(n = 361)

Health

(n = 440)

High-tech

(n = 326)

Manufacturing

(n = 417)

Non-

professional

Services

(n = 247)

Professional

Services

(n = 527)

State/Local

Government

(n = 561)

More jobs with

specific technical

requirements

60% 69% 52% 49% 62% 79% 71% 42% 58% 55%

Increased staff size 55% 70% 30% 66% 56% 70% 52% 55% 64% 29%

Higher education

level required for

most jobs

50% 43% 42% 46% 56% 51% 59% 40% 49% 51%

Increased

employee diversity49% 48% 45% 53% 48% 49% 50% 45% 50% 48%

More science-,

technology-,

engineering- and

math-related jobs

31% 37% 28% 16% 25% 61% 44% 13% 31% 22%

Fewer entry-level

jobs30% 19% 41% 25% 32% 37% 34% 18% 30% 34%


8

Think about your organization’s workforce in the next three to five years. Compared with today what are the differences? (continued)


All Industries

(n = 3,414)

Construction,

Mining, Oil

and Gas

(n = 345)

Federal

Government

(n = 190)

Finance

(n = 361)

Health

(n = 440)

High-tech

(n = 326)

Manufacturing

(n = 417)

Non-

professional

Services

(n = 247)

Professional

Services

(n = 527)

State/Local

Government

(n = 561)

More service-

oriented jobs29% 23% 22% 43% 40% 27% 12% 43% 29% 26%

Greater reliance

on temporary/

contingent workers20% 17% 27% 12% 14% 20% 25% 21% 17% 25%

Decreased staff

size 19% 7% 49% 11% 17% 11% 18% 15% 15% 33%

More entry-level

jobs19% 28% 12% 21% 15% 18% 17% 28% 19% 13%

Lower education

levels required for

most jobs1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 1% 1% 0% 1%

Other 3% 2% 4% 4% 4% 2% 2% 2% 2% 4%

Not sure 7% 7% 7% 6% 6% 3% 6% 10% 8% 10%


9

Do you anticipate that your organization’s needs for employees at the following education levels will increase, stay the same or decrease over the next three to five years? All Industries

Note: Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

High school diploma or equivalent only (n = 3,386)

Specific postsecondary certificate/credential(s) only (n = 3,290)

Associate’s degree (n = 3,275)

Bachelor’s degree (n = 3,409)

Advanced degree (e.g., master's, MBA, Ph.D., M.D., J.D.) (n = 3,338)

16%

32%

25%

55%

41%

68%

62%

67%

43%

56%

16%

5%

7%

2%

3%

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase


10

Do you anticipate that your organization’s needs for employees at the following education levels will increase, stay the same or decrease over the next three to five years? Construction, Mining, Oil and Gas


High school diploma or equivalent only (n = 342)

Specific postsecondary certificate/credential(s) only (n = 336)

Associate’s degree (n = 326)

Bachelor’s degree (n = 344)

Advanced degree (e.g., master's, MBA, Ph.D., M.D., J.D.) (n = 331)

24%

36%

22%

57%

33%

67%

62%

75%

41%

64%

9%

2%

4%

1%

2%

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase


11

Do you anticipate that your organization’s needs for employees at the following education levels will increase, stay the same or decrease over the next three to five years? Federal Government







7%

30%

26%

52%

45%

69%

63%

62%

46%

51%

24%

7%

11%

3%

5%

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase


12

Do you anticipate that your organization’s needs for employees at the following education levels will increase, stay the same or decrease over the next three to five years? Finance







13%

22%

23%

57%

38%

73%

71%

72%

41%

61%

14%

6%

5%

1%

1%

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase


13

Do you anticipate that your organization’s needs for employees at the following education levels will increase, stay the same or decrease over the next three to five years? Health







17%

40%

29%

62%

51%

69%

57%

62%

37%

47%

14%

3%

9%

2%

1%

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase


14

Do you anticipate that your organization’s needs for employees at the following education levels will increase, stay the same or decrease over the next three to five years? High-tech







9%

28%

18%

56%

56%

63%

61%

69%

42%

44%

27%

11%

13%

2%

1%

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase


15

Do you anticipate that your organization’s needs for employees at the following education levels will increase, stay the same or decrease over the next three to five years? Manufacturing







26%

39%

36%

58%

39%

64%

58%

60%

40%

58%

10%

3%

5%

2%

3%

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase


16

Do you anticipate that your organization’s needs for employees at the following education levels will increase, stay the same or decrease over the next three to five years? Nonprofessional Services







24%

26%

23%

44%

27%

67%

70%

73%

54%

68%

10%

4%

5%

2%

5%

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase


17

Do you anticipate that your organization’s needs for employees at the following education levels will increase, stay the same or decrease over the next three to five years? Professional Services







8%

29%

19%

52%

49%

70%

62%

71%

46%

48%

22%

9%

10%

3%

2%

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase


18

Do you anticipate that your organization’s needs for employees at the following education levels will increase, stay the same or decrease over the next three to five years? State/Local Government







13%

35%

31%

52%

32%

71%

61%

64%

45%

64%

16%

3%

5%

3%

4%

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase


Survey Methodology

SHRM Survey Findings: Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements

In collaboration with and commissioned by Achieve

• Response rate = 18%

• 4,695 HR professional respondents from a randomly selected sample of nine different industries in SHRM’s membership

Construction, mining, oil and gas = 491

Federal government = 356

Finance = 530

Health = 526

High-tech = 447

• Margin of error +/-1%

• Survey fielded March 28-April 30, 2012

Manufacturing = 526

Nonprofessional services = 479

Professional services = 492

State and local government = 848

19


20

SHRM Survey Findings: Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements

• For more survey/poll findings, visit www.shrm.org/surveys

• For more information about SHRM’s Customized Research Services, visit www.shrm.org/customizedresearch

• Follow us on Twitter @SHRM_Research

About SHRM Research


http://www.shrm.org/surveys

http://www.shrm.org/customizedresearch

http://twitter.com/SHRM_Research

shrm survey findings: changing employee skills and education requirements—changes in the workforce...

Documents

higher education requirements

specific skills requirements

education requirementschanges

increased number of

higher education levels

changing employee skills

following industries

increased employee diversity