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Achieving Business Results through Literacy and Education: A local snapshot! Meg Poag, Executive Director. PO Box 41567 Austin, Texas 78704 (512) 320-4505 www.willread.org mpoag@willread.org. Work-Based Education Employer Needs Assessment. Focused on the following industries
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Achieving Business Results through Literacy and Education: A local snapshot!Meg Poag, Executive Director PO Box 41567 Austin, Texas 78704 (512) 320-4505 www.willread.org mpoag@willread.org
Work-Based EducationEmployer Needs Assessment • Focused on the following industries • Manufacturing • Professional and technical services • Retail trade, including grocery stores • Health care • Information technology • 48 employers submitted responses
Are you having difficulty filling jobs due to. . . • Lack of English-language literacy skills: 56.7%Reading, writing, speaking, listening and mathematics in English • Lack of soft skills: 50.0%Participating as a team member, teaching others, serving clients or customers, negotiation • Lack of technical skills: 50.0% Using machines and/or computers to monitor or perform tasks • Lack of basic education/literacy skills: 43.3%Reading, writing, speaking, listening and mathematics
Would it be useful to have pre-employment training? Yes (n = 32) No (n = 10)
What kinds of training would benefit your current employees? • Soft skills: 73.7%Participating as a team member, teaching others, serving clients or customers, negotiation • English-language literacy skills: 57.9%Reading, writing, speaking, listening and mathematics in English • Technical skills: 52.6% Using machines and/or computers to monitor or perform tasks • Basic literacy skills: 42.1%Reading, writing, speaking, listening and mathematics
Which statements are true about your company? (Top 5 Responses) Employer Needs Employer Values General training philosophy. Internal promotions in hiring practices. Tuition reimbursement program in place. Good Communication Skills for front-line workers. Front-line workers are in key customer contact roles.
To what extent would you be willing to invest in training? • Offer classes during work hours: 76.0% • Paying an organization to provide classes or training for employees: 60.0% • Providing child care for classes: 4.0% • Transportation to the classes: 8.0%
Consider the possibilities… Challenge: Consider ways you could collaborate to address the workforce education needs in Central Texas. • No matter how BIG or small!