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Study 3- Labour Market Demand for STEM Occupations. February, 2014. Main messages . Many skills in short supply, but the main STEM positions reported as hard to fill are: software engineer, engineers, technicians, electricians and fitters
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Study 3- Labour Market Demand for STEM Occupations February, 2014
Main messages • Many skills in short supply, but the main STEM positions reported as hard to fill are: software engineer, engineers, technicians, electricians and fitters • Employers are using their own networks to find recruits rather than getting in touch with HEIs or TVETs • Mismatch between employers and students perceptions on STEM teaching • Employersare uncertain about needed skills in future • The links are weak among employers and TVET/HEIs
Main Message 1: Employers say that they still have difficulty in recruiting the skilled people that they need.
Employers’ understanding of why they can’t recruit • There is a shortage of specialists in the country • People are not trained for these skills • These skills are not considered to be trendy
Main Message 2: Employers are using their own networks to find recruits N=150
When employers recruit an untrained person • 73% conduct internal training • 12.5% use external training • Around half of employers think they can recruit young people with the skills, knowledge, attitudes and work habits that will make for success
Main Message 3: Mismatch between employers and students perceptions on STEM teaching Employers’ opinion about HEI N=150
Majority of HEI students rate STEM teaching at HEI high • 80% of university students interviewed think their teachers know their subjects well • 72.7% say their faculty explains things well • 68% say their faculty is developing their skills well • 71.3% say their faculty is in touch with the labor market • Employers were less positive
Small portion of employers think TVETs develop skills needed N=150
Vast majority of TVET students rate STEM teaching high • 94% of students think their teachers know their subjects well • 91% rate their teachers’ ability to develop the skills of the student as good. • 88% thought their teachers were in touch with the labor market • Employers were less positive
Employer opinion on STEM teaching at schools • 22.6% thought that the schools were doing a good job but 28.7% thought that they were not • Employers think 7.3% of teachers are aware of labor market issues and trends, 27.3% thought that they are not.
Students evaluation of STEM subject teaching at school The difference between University and TVET students is notable • University students provide more positive rating for all STEM subjects taught at school compared with TVET students • The highest difference is observed in case of Math and the lowest in case of Chemistry
Low awareness of STEM careers at school • TVET students surveyed reported they were not very aware of STEM career opportunities while at school; the numbers citing that they were aware were: Science 22.0%, Technical 37.0%, Engineering 31.0%, Math 25.0%. • For University students the numbers citing that they were aware were: Science 40.7%, Technical 56.6%, Engineering 48.7% and Math 54.7%.
Student knowledge of scholarships • 42.0% of University students interviewed said they had received information about scholarships at school while 47.3% of University students interviewed were sure they had not • For TVET students the figures were 9.0% had received information and 84.0% had not received information about scholarships at school.
HEI & TVET focus on real job opportunities • 42.6% of university students interviewed reported that there was this focus on real job opportunities and 63% of TVET students interviewed share this opinion. 36% of university students interviewed reported that their institution is involved in student employment; for TVET respondents the figure is 51%. • BUT • 12% of employers reported that they take placements from HEI & TVET and 7.3% talk to universities about their training needs
Main message 4: Employersare uncertain about needed skills in future • 46.7% agree that new skills will be needed • When asked what these new skills would be, employers were less sure. • The largest responses were Technologist, Engineer and Electrician as the main areas but only 6% said this. Other skills indicated were at even lower levels • There was a view from 18% that the new skills would be a mix of existing skills or possibly new skills • 70% never discuss this issue with fellow employers
What are the current ‘hard to recruit’ skills: • Software engineer 13% • Engineer 10.7% • Technician 7.3% • Electrician 6% • Fitter 5.3% • Mechanic 3.3%
What are Future ‘hard to recruit’ skills • Technologist / technician 12.7% • Electrician 12.7% • Engineer 12.7% • Mechanic 10% • Welder 8.6% • Metallurgist 3% • Fitter 3% • Plumber 3%
Priority operator areas • Electrician • Fitter • Mechanic • Welder • Plumber
Priority technician and technical manager areas • Software engineer • Engineer • Technician • Technologist • Electrician • Engineer • Metallurgist
Sectors where the skills are needed • Chemicals and pharmaceuticals • Electric production and delivery (electricians are trained but mostly for the construction industry) • Gas transportation and delivery • Water and sewage • Mining and processing • Logistics and rail • Computer and related activities • Manufacturing of electrical and optical, transport equipment, other manufacturing
Main message 5: links are weak among employers and TVET /HEIs • 75% said “I do not have any kind of relationship with local universities” • 90% say that they have no relationship with TVETs (reflected in lower employment rates for TVET graduates compared to HEI)s
Summary of recommendations • A STEM school teaching improvement programme to be implemented • A strategic partnership development of TVET and University vocational education and training with government and employers • An upgrading of teaching skills and facilities at TVET and Universities • Career guidance in schools is a clear need • Improved information packs about further vocational education in STEM fields distributed to schools. The Universities and TVETs need to be encouraged to coordinate their efforts on this and also to engage more strategically with schools.
Summary of recommendations • Strategic action to address skill shortage areas • Competence standards need to be agreed on a sectoral basis • Policy makers need to work closely with employers who are generally sceptical about existing vocational education providers’ ability to deliverneeded skills