4 approaches to fight skill- gap unemployment
Tim Hoiseth
Chairman CNL Group | Business Psychologist | Sociologist | *Capacity building for the future
As I often like to address. The world is changing, and one of the major changes is an increase in complexity. This among many other major changes also goes for the work market in general. Not only more complexity in technology, but also more complexity in work tasks. Most jobs requiring a human presence in the future, and even many jobs today. Will be far more advanced then typical jobs was before, as we already see trends of. This also lead to an increased demand of competencies and skills to handle these jobs. This goes for social and health sector, production industry, service industry or any other employment sector. We face more skill requirements.
More skilled people, great! Whats the problem? With all positive change, some downsides occur. These changes also creates a skill- gap unemployment, many left on the outside. Some groups are locked out of the labour market, maybe a to high entry ticket for many. Often young people left out of education, newly educated with no chance to build their competence further. maybe older generations, with years of experience with a skill- gap on contemporary relevant technologies. All with some kind of skill- gap to enter payed work.
This short article will provide 4 approaches (Source: Us chamber of commerce foundation) to increase a target groups involvement in a target labour market. Decreasing skill- gap unemployment over time.
- Increase ?target group? exposure to jobs that are in demand- And at the same time give the ?target group? a better understanding of the work market needs. - Exposure to available jobs that suits the interest and skills set of a candidate. Platforms that makes it possible with a greater flow of skills, greater exposure to explore possibilities to find a place that fits. Not only trought efficient job search tools, connecting employer and employee. But also trough Internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, or classroom based community projects.
- Post professional partnerships - Partnership with private and public sectors in creating solutions to real problems the organizations have ownership in. Identifying the current problems an organization has, and finding solutions and the right skill sets to solve it.
- Industry- focused skill programs - Industry focused programs that focus on innovating practices and training skills to solve the current problem. Work with young people and newly educated to shape their skills towards the actually market needs and problems organizations own. Also targeted skill programs to already established professionals (An important factor is then to do a good mapping in the post professional partnership).
- Better align workforce demand- Business owners and public sector leaders play a critical role in communicating with skills and competences that are in demand in todays work market. Using data for better informing recruitment practices, skill development on different levels either national, private or NGO level relevant skill and competence development. - Industry leader/ owners of a problem can implement feedback mechanisms for skill development institutions to ensure curriculum (relevant knowledge/ certification) and also instructions on what demands of skills and competence would be in todays work market.
The cooperation between the three parts of employee, employer and educator is essential for adapting to the future challenges of a constantly changing skill based labor market in demand of constant innovation and dynamic solutions. Ensuring that the right skills and competences are developed to the current needs and problems.
Addressing this issue requires a sustainable and systemic solution both in mapping competence needs, cooperation with relevant organizations, educating the skills and competence needed, and exposing both the employer and employees of possibilities. Getting young and newly educated skilled workers to the right competence in the current demand, acting on urgency to improve transitions between demands. Both between education and demand, between existing skills and demand and existing skills in further competence development on demand from needs in society.
I posted this article to enlighten a social responsibility. As I can see from my article statistics, many reading my articles are decision makers. I would like to address that it is also our responsibility to take our part in developing the skills our societies need. The person your help today might change your life in the future.
Help ourselves by helping others,
Is it our social responsibility as decision makers to fight an increasing unemployment skill- gap?
What do you think? Share your thoughts