Prior
to working in the staffing industry, I was an elementary teacher
for 20 years. Last month, I had a chance to sit down over
a cup of coffee to discuss with my fellow teachers their thoughts
on whether students were better or less able to meet the needs
of their potential employers. There overwhelming response
was “less able”. The teachers stated, what we've all
been hearing; "Math skills and the ability to communicate
both orally and in writing have diminished over the past twenty
years."
If our workforce is less able to meet
the needs of businesses, what are employers going to do? The
answer appears to be quite obvious--we go elsewhere.
Many large companies are forming international recruiting
teams to bring workers to this country and are exporting more
of their high paid positions outside the country. As a small
business employer, I find this solution very concerning.
The problem becomes more acute when we look at a high portion
of our older workers approaching retirement. In a new book
written by Ken Dychtwald & Robert Morison entitled, Workforce
Crisis: How to Beat the Coming Shortage of Skills and Talent,
the authors urged companies “Tap into every pool out there
- part- timers, older workers, female dropouts - and start
looking for ways to offer them what they need.”
With the number of workers approaching retirement, it’s high
time we start developing a changing attitude about our looming
workforce crisis.
Some possible solutions;
-
Remove the penalties of collecting social security while
working. Currently, workers are limited in the amount
of money they can earn and collect social security.
-
Look to other countries for solutions; Sweden allows anyone
over the age of 55 to earn 80% of their income and work
50% of the time.
-
Establish a goal of 100% graduation rate. The higher the
percentage, the more federal reimbursement there would
be.
-
Force states to fund a higher portion of public university
education and provide higher incentives for money invested
in education by individuals
-
Reeducate the workforce. Businesses need to get more involved
in reeducating the workforce they employ. Incentives could
be provided to workers to encourage those now working
to receive on-the-job education
I’m
anxious to hear your thoughts on our shortage of trained workforce.
Send your thoughts to
Don@HumanResourceStaffingInc.com
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of this article cannot be accomplished without the expressed
consent of Human Resource Staffing.
Don Schmitz
is a popular speaker and writer on all aspects of HR and CEO
of Human Resource Staffing. Don holds graduate degrees in
Education, Administration and Human Development.
Contact Don@HumanResourceStaffingInc.com
952 854 6040
