 |  |  |  |  |  |
Career Change and Career Development Resources
Articles and White Papers
Report shows new workers aren’t ready for prime time
By Theresa Minton-Eversole and Kathy Gurchiek
A report released Oct. 2 by leaders from a consortium of business research organizations finds that new entrants
to the career workforce are sorely lacking in much-needed basic education and advanced workplace skills and, as
a result, the U.S. economy is growing more vulnerable to competition.
The report, Are They Really Ready to Work? Employers' Perspectives on the Basic Knowledge And Applied Skills of
New Entrants to the 21st Century Workforce, is based on a detailed survey of 431 human resource professionals
that was conducted in April and May by The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, the
Partnership for 21st Century Skills and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The survey
examines employers' views on the readiness of new entrants to the U.S. workforce—recently hired graduates from
high schools, two-year colleges or technical schools and four-year colleges.
By Theresa Minton-Eversole and Kathy Gurchiek
A report released Oct. 2 by leaders from a consortium of business research organizations finds that new entrants
to the career workforce are sorely lacking in much-needed basic education and advanced workplace skills and, as
a result, the U.S. economy is growing more vulnerable to competition.
The report, Are They Really Ready to Work? Employers' Perspectives on the Basic Knowledge And Applied Skills of
New Entrants to the 21st Century Workforce, is based on a detailed survey of 431 human resource professionals
that was conducted in April and May by The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, the
Partnership for 21st Century Skills and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The survey
examines employers' views on the readiness of new entrants to the U.S. workforce—recently hired graduates from
high schools, two-year colleges or technical schools and four-year colleges.
The New Rules of Employment
For anyone over the age of 40 or anyone raised by parents who are currently over the age of 40, the idea that
“they changed the rules while we were out to lunch” resonates. In the mid-70’s the business world profoundly
changed, which resulted in significant changes in the way employers and employees interacted. A key driver
to these changes was increased competition caused by Globalization, which resulted in:
The most disconcerting part is not the change, but the fact that we are well into the 21st century and manypeople do not fully understand how the changes have shaped the rules of employment. This white paper
outlines four new rules and how an individual can leverage them to enhance their career development skills.
“they changed the rules while we were out to lunch” resonates. In the mid-70’s the business world profoundly
changed, which resulted in significant changes in the way employers and employees interacted. A key driver
to these changes was increased competition caused by Globalization, which resulted in:
 | Sending low skilled jobs offshore | |
| Shifting the US economy to be primarily knowledge or service-based | |
| Increasing work force diversity | |
| Increasing direct competition from foreign companies | |
| Flattening and streamlining hierarchical organizations |
The most disconcerting part is not the change, but the fact that we are well into the 21st century and many
outlines four new rules and how an individual can leverage them to enhance their career development skills.
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |