2019 has faded into the past without notice and the rush into 2020 has begun. The “Recession” prognosis never materialized. With unemployment at a record low, and employers still struggling to match skills and talent to job requirements, 2020 will be a year to LEARN & LEAD. Knowledge empowers. Individuals and organizations alike will need to enable themselves with the best learning strategies and tools to continue to sustain their current business growth, as well as be prepared for all the opportunities that lie ahead to lead in their chosen goals and objectives. The focus can be ‘LEAD’ not ‘React’.
Some important and critical factors to consider when developing a LEARN & LEAD culture:
- A recent study in Minnesota concluded that manufacturing is losing young talent to other industries.1 This should serve as a wake-up call! Despite offering the second-highest wages in Minnesota, manufacturers are struggling to retain the talent it needs for the digital future. Fewer high school and college grads pursue careers in manufacturing – the state’s largest private-sector. Even though this is a Minnesota study, it’s not hard to extrapolate these findings to manufacturing across the country. How is your city or state poised to respond? What career roadmaps and training strategies can you offer to entice young talent to your organization? How will your organization Learn & Lead and not react?
- The daunting statistic – nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will likely need to be filled over the next decade, and 2 million of those jobs are likely to remain unfilled.2 As forward-looking organizations pursue all avenues to retain and grow talent, apprenticeship programs can be effective in attempts to close this Skills Gap. These programs, sponsored by U.S. employers and established around industry-wide standards, can contribute to those efforts to build a pipeline of skilled workers, boost retention, reduce recruiting costs, and improve productivity. Can this also introduce young talent to the career benefits in manufacturing? Absolutely! It’s a win-win for manufacturing students, educators, and employers.
- Human capital is now a significant financial impact for organizations that have struggled to retain a skilled workforce, either due to retirement or those leaving for more lucrative opportunities. The Cost of Turnover is estimated by some at a minimum of $8k and climbs from there. Is it a make-or-break situation for your organization? You can calculate the direct and indirect Costs of Turnover to understand the impact on your company.3 Note that rate of turnover reductions can be mitigated by providing upskilling opportunities for employees. Investing in upskilling could save your business money in the long term.
- Recognizing the importance of continuous improvement in the quality of education, ISO has developed ISO 21001, the first management system standard on education.4 In addition, ISO’s technical committee ISO/TC 232 develops standards that describe the requirements for learning services provided outside formal education, such as ISO 29993, which covers all types of lifelong learning, including vocational education and in-company training (either outsourced or in-house).
- Adult learning – understanding the aspects of ‘Learning’ as it applies to adults in the workforce can effectuate employee training programs.5 For instance, there are multifaceted challenges that affect motivation for learning. One element that is often overlooked is empathy. Empathy with a learner’s experiences, strengths, and weaknesses cultivates motivation and ensures satisfaction when engaging in training programs.6
As AI continues to get integrated into the learning process, the learner’s feelings of purpose, understanding, and engagement will become even more critical to the foundation of the Learn & Lead culture.
QC Training Services’ mission is to become a trustworthy and leading Quality and Technical training company in North America. Let us help you develop a Learn & Lead culture. www.QCTrainingInc.com
REFERENCES:
- How do Young People in Minnesota Perceive Manufacturing Careers?, May 6, 2019, West Monroe Partners, 2019; https://www.westmonroepartners.com/Insights/White-Papers/Minnesota-perceive-manufacturing-careers
- Strong Manufacturing Communities Help Close the Skills Gap, March 13, 2019, ToolingU | SME; https://www.toolingu.com/Resources/Blog/March-2019/Strong-Manufacturing-Communities
- Cost of Turnover Tool, March 18, 2019, Aspen Institute; https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/cost-of-turnover-tool/
- ISO 21001:2018 – Educational Organizations – Management systems for educational organizations – Requirements with guidance for use, Publication date: 2018-05; https://www.iso.org/standard/66266.html
- eLearning Industry – Adult Learning; https://elearningindustry.com/tags/adult-learning
- 5 Keys to Motivating Adults to Learn: Empathy, March 2, 2016; https://www.iacet.org/news/iacet-blog/blog-articles/5-keys-to-motivating-adults-to-learn-empathy/
