Survey Says: Finding and Keeping skilled employees
Over the past two months, MAMTC along with the Kansas Department of Commerce conducted a survey of manufacturers and other interested employers asking them to rate those issues that they found most pressing. Of the 15 or so areas of concern, more than 3 out of 5 reported that finding and keeping skilled employees was by far the number one concern facing them today.
These findings come as no surprise. What may be a bit surprising though is the fact that very few small to medium sized companies have specific, time-tested strategies in place to combat the problem. It stands to reason that if they did, this problem might be far less of an obstacle to ultimate profitability.
A recent 2014 study by Accenture revealed a number of strategies some larger companies have used in making talent deficiencies much more manageable.
First, the digital age gives employers access to all kinds of training they may not have known were available and on a 24/7 basis. Simple Google searches make finding these very specific training packages much easier to access.
A second strategy – and one that MAMTC has been involved with for some time – involves partnering with community colleges and technical schools to bring continuing training skills to manufacturers at nearby locations. They are also places were talented students can be discovered for future employment. These schools often employ certification programs as well that can give peace of mind to potential employers.
Finally, the study suggested that that tried and true thing called apprenticeships should be utilized whenever possible. On the job training is how many a great employee began. None of us were perfect employees when we began – but paying attention to a future employee’s potential is an additional key to finding and keeping great employees.
Give us a call and we'll see if there's any additional strategies we might pursue for your company!
