5 Things You Should Know About Workforce Needs In Idaho.

Five things you should know about workforce needs in Idaho.

The ReThink Series Knowledge Base of Education Facts

ReThink Workforce / JKAF.ORG // PG 1

Background: Idaho’s education leaders have rallied behind a goal that calls for 60 percent of young adults in Idaho to hold postsecondary degrees or credentials by 2020.

State business leaders share an urgency to rapidly boost the skills of the state’s workforce. How can you plan for your future?

FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WORKFORCE NEEDS IN IDAHO.

1: By 2018, Idaho employers will require a more-educated workforce.

ReThink Workforce / JKAF.ORG // PG 4

NEED MORE

Idaho businesses will 1-, 2- and 4-year degree holders in 2018

Advanced Degree Bachelor’s Degree Associate Degree Certification

100%

60% Goal

12% 13% 30%

24%

12%

11%

5%

7%

Employees in 2013

Perceived Need in 2018

Source: IBE Workforce Needs Survey (Questions 6, 7, and 8).

2: For many occupations, Idaho employers anticipate needing highly educated workers at a rate that exceeds the current national average.

ReThink Workforce / JKAF.ORG // PG 6

HOT JOBS IN IDAHO RANKED IN ORDER of the share of upcoming open positions that will require a 4-year degree

#1 Healthcare Professionals #2 Management #3 Engineering #4 Legal #5 Computer #6 Training & Education #7 Sales/Marketing #8 Community & Social Services

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey & IBE Workforce Needs Survey (Question 10).

Occupations with fewer than 40 responses were removed.

3: The top three emerging degree areas for Idaho employers are computer science/technology, business and economics and engineering.

ReThink Workforce / JKAF.ORG // PG 8

DEGREE AREAS RANKED IN ORDER of near-term importance by Idaho employers #1 Computer Science/Technology #2 Business & Economics #3 Engineering #4 Health Science #5 Communciations #6 General Science #7 Mathematics #8 Vocational Education #9 Social Science #10 Natural Resources #11 Education #12 Liberal Arts #13 Agricultural Sciences #14 Art/Architecture

Source: IBE Workforce Needs Survey (Question 13).

4: Soft skills are important to Idaho employers.

ReThink Workforce / JKAF.ORG // PG 10

SKILL/COMPETENCY AREAS RANKED IN ORDER of importance by Idaho employers #1 Perform with Integrity #2 Contribute to a Team

PERFORM with

#3 Acquire Knowledge

INTEGRITY

#4 Solve Problems

ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE

#5 Effectively Communicate Orally #6 Manage Time & Priorities #7 Embrace Change #8 Think Critically #9 Take Initiative #10 Build & Sustain Professional Working Relationships

CONTRIBUTE TO A TEAM

SOLVE

PROBLEMS

#11 Analyze, Evaluate & Interpret Information #12 Manage & Synthesize Different Sources of Information #13 Effectively Communicate Through Writing

60% Goal

Source: IBE Workforce Needs Survey (Question 16).

5: Employers are looking for good communicators and problem solvers.

10

30

20

40

50

70

80

90

100

SKILLS

ReThink Workforce / JKAF.ORG // PG 12

THAT IDAHO EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR in new hires (the larger the word, the more important the skill to Idaho employers)

perform

able

specific

desire

team

writing math learn

science

read

willingness

accounting

knowledge

communication self motivated

common sense

English

technical

critical thinking written

leadership business tasks good connection

honest

sales

thinking

people strong basic customer service social computer

problem solving

interpersonal job

understanding

others

work ethic professional

education

experience

verbal reading marketing office

school

good

Source: IBE Workforce Needs Survey (Question 15).

FYI The ReThink Series is a periodic report of education facts produced by the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation. This issue is in partnership with Idaho Business for Education and ECONorthwest, an economics, finance and planning consulting firm.

jkaf.org

econw.com

idahobe.org