Developing In-Demand Skills for a Developing In-Demand Skills for a Changing Job Market: Changing Job Market: A Workshop for AlumniA Workshop for Alumni
Rutgers University Alumni Association and Rutgers Career Services
in conjunction with The John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce
Development present…
November 11, 2009
Rutgers Career Services
http://careerservices.rutgers.edu/alumniinfo.shtml
Rutgers University Alumni Association
Ralumni.com
Benefits and Services for Rutgers graduates:
The Emerging Skill Requirements of a Changing Economy
Jennifer M. Cleary, M.P.A.P.,
Senior Project ManagerThe John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Edward J. Bloustein School for Planning and Public Policy
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Overview• Introduction
• Where Are the Jobs?
• Which Skills are in High Demand and What Can You Do to Be More Competitive?
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Overview: Heldrich Center ResearchOverview: Heldrich Center Research
• Pharmaceuticals/Biotech• Health Care• Financial Services• Construction• Energy/Utilities• Information Technology• Transportation • Port-related Industries• Retail Industry• Disaster Response
Reports on Industry skill needs of key NJ industries:Reports on Industry skill needs of key NJ industries:
• Hospitality / Tourism• Manufacturing• Green Jobs• Remote Work
Research based on: Over 250 interviews with
New Jersey Employers Over 20 Focus Groups with
Industry and Education Stakeholders
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Recession-Resilient Industries
Industries surviving on their own:
• Healthcare– Aging baby boomers
fueling demand– For jobs, think
beyond nursing
• Education
Industries benefitting from stimulus
• Research
• Health IT
• Public Policy/Gov’t Contractors
• Construction and • “Green Jobs”
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What are “Green Jobs”?
No standard definition• Protecting ecosystems and wildlife• Minimizing waste and pollution• Reducing energy usage and lowering carbon
emissions
Green Jobs cross many industries and occupational titles
• Old and new occupations• All education levels• Difficult to count
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Two Sectors of Green Jobs in Energy
Energy Efficiency/ Conservation
• Residential Weatherization
• Commercial and Industrial Retrofits
Renewable/Sustainable Energy
• Renewable: Solar, Wind, Biomass, Biofuel, Geothermal
• Sustainable: Hydrogen, Nuclear, Co-Generation
Source: Northwest Community Energy
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Common “Green” Job Categories
Architecture, Engineering, and Project ManagementHigh-skill design, engineering, project mgt.
ManufacturingProduction of RE/EE products and parts
Research and Development Basic research, testing and development of new RE/EE products and technologies.
Business Administration
Financial/Sales/MarketingInformation Technology
Carbon/SREC trading
Construction, Installation, Repair, and MaintenanceSkilled trades workers and laborers
Building auditors and ratersFacilities management
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Polices Stimulating Energy Job Creation
NJ Clean Energy Program
New Jersey Energy Master
Plan/Governor’s Economic
Assistance and Recovery Plan
2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act
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• Hiring and short-term training needs are still emerging – Stay Tuned!
• What we expect in NJ:
Residential EE
Commercial EE, Solar projects, R&D
Large Wind Projects
First Wave
Second Wave
Third Wave
Green Energy Job Creation in NJ
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Which Skills are in High Demand and What Can You Do to Be More Competitive in Today’s Volatile
Job Market?
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Research with Employers
Study Focus:• Emerging trends impacting employer skill needs in New
Jersey’s Innovation Economy;• Key skills workers at all levels employment need to adapt
to these trends, and
Industries included:
- Life sciences - Information Technology - Telecommunications - Energy- Advanced Manufacturing - Advanced Materials- Environmental Technology - Professional Engineering & Research- Retail - Healthcare services- Utilities/Infrastructure - Domestic Preparedness / Public Health Emergency Readiness
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Workforce Challenges Posed by a Rapidly Changing, Global Economy
• Innovation = Creative Destruction
• Job titles and job duties are more amorphous
• Skill requirements change quickly
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TREND #1.Competitive advantage of
firms that harness
knowledge and innovation
TREND #2.
Decentralization of business
operations and management
Six Evolving Workplace Trends
TREND #3.
Continued and expanded reliance
on technology in the workplace
TREND #4.
Increasing diversity
in the workplace
TREND #5.
Employer focus on privacy,
security,& ethics
TREND #6.
Regulation shifts change business
processes
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Job responsibilities at all levels are changing to improve the flow of knowledge throughout organizations
TREND #1.
Competitive advantage of firms that
harness knowledge
and innovation
Major firms are creating new types of knowledge jobs including: chief knowledge officers and innovation managers
Broad Workplace Trend Implications for Workers
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Transfer of more responsibility to front line
workers /High-performance work
systems
TREND #2.
Decentralization of business
operations and management
Development of global project networks
Broad Workplace Trend Implications for Workers
More non-traditional worker-employer
relationships
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TREND #3.Continued
and expanded reliance
on technology
in the workplace
Broad Workplace Trend Implications for Workers
Shifts in job responsibilities and skills needed to
perform jobs
Net increase in the level of skills needed to be
successful in most jobs
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TREND #4.
Increasing diversity
in the workplace
Broad Workplace Trend Implications for Workers
Higher level of complexity Involved in
interpersonal interactions
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TREND #5.
Employers increasingly
focused on privacy,
security,and ethics concerns
Broad Workplace Trend Implications for Workers
Job responsibilities at all levels are changing to improve prevention of and response to a variety of threats
Major firms are creating new positions to address security and ethics concerns including: ethics officers and security managers
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TREND #6.
Business processeschange in response to shifts in regulations & mergers/ acquisitions
Broad Workplace Trend Implications for Workers
Long and short-term increases in the knowledge and skill requirements for jobs at all levels
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High Priority Skills in Today’s Economy
• Adaptability Skills• Information Management and
Communication/ Relationship-building Skills
• Business Skills • Math/Science/Engineering/Technology
Skills• Interdisciplinary skills
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Adaptability Skills
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills• Monitoring, problem identification• Flexible role orientation• Management of organizational change• Lifelong learning• Time management• Career management
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Information Management and Communication/ Relationship-building Skills
• Gather, prioritize and analyze data and information
• Convey knowledge gained through analysis• Cultural understanding, awareness• Public speaking / presentation• Writing• Teamwork• Negotiation
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Business Skills
• Project management• Product management / marketing• Sales / customer service• Basic business finance• Management skills, especially in a virtual
environment
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Math/Science/Engineering/Technology Skills
• Advanced knowledge in a single math/science/engineering discipline
• Basic knowledge in a technical discipline• Understand and apply new technologies,
including distance learning tools
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Interdisciplinary skills
• Knowledge of multiple science, engineering disciplines
• Combined business and science/engineering skills
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What You Can Do
• Highlight Priority Skills You Already Have
• Build Skills/Obtain Certification Through Formal Education
• Use Informal Means to Develop Weaker Skills
• Do your Homework on Employers – No “One-Size-Fits-All” Resumes and Cover Letters
• Be Flexible – Most people end up far from their major in the real world.
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Additional Resources
Heldrich Center Website: www.heldrich.rutgers.edu
New Jersey Department of Labor Market Tools
• General:http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/LMI_index.html• Real Time Jobs in Demandhttp://lwd.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/content/RealTimeJobsinDemand.html• Quarterly Workforce Indicatorshttp://lehd.did.census.gov/led/datatools/qwiapp.html
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