(BPT) – Unemployment is at its lowest point since 1969 and job openings are at a 17-year high, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With a tightened labor market the competition for candidates with the right skill set is soaring. Yet, many workers lack the skills necessary to pursue new opportunities, suggests a new survey from Prudential Financial, Inc.
The fifth American Workers Survey, conducted in November on behalf of Prudential by Morning Consult, found that more than one in four American Workers say opportunities for career advancement are available to them – but they lack the skills and training for these positions.
The skills gap is even more concerning for millennials – 51 percent say they’re worried a lack of skills or education will negatively impact their career in the next five years.
The biggest barriers to building those skills? According to American workers, access to educational opportunities and financial concerns rank at the top. For millennials, most likely to be new parents, more than half say learning and developing new skills will require access to affordable childcare.
American workers expect the private sector to take the lead in their personal development – nearly four in five say the private sector has responsibility for retraining, and nearly six in 10 expect their employer to help pay for training and new skills.
‘Jobs are core to the foundation of American workers’ financial well-being,’ said Rob Falzon, vice chairman of Prudential. ‘Right now, there’s a skills gap emerging. There’s competition for talent, but at the same time, the jobs are changing as a result of disruption. Ensuring workers have the right skill sets to fill these jobs will be paramount for their future financial wellness.’
Companies including Prudential have been addressing this challenge through investments in the National Fund for Workforce Solutions and partnerships with local universities that help shape educational experiences and mentor students for careers in financial services and information technology. Companies are also looking for ways to help tap into new talent pools. For example, Prudential’s program with Workplace Opportunity Services is designed to train and prepare veterans and military spouses for the civilian workforce.
‘The future of work is already here,’ Falzon said. ‘Employers need to create opportunities to strengthen our workforce by increasing worker flexibility and mobility.’
Please visit news.prudential.com to learn more about this survey.
The American Workers Survey is the fifth in a series conducted on behalf of Prudential by Morning Consult from Nov. 13 to 16, 2018, among a national sample of 1,919 self-identified part-time and full-time employed adults (age 18 and over). The interviews were conducted online, and the data was weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, race/ethnicity and gender. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of ±2 percentage points. Percentages may not total 100 percent due to rounding.
