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