Developing In-Demand Skills for a Changing Job Market: A Workshop for Alumni Rutgers University...

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

John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

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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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Where Are the Jobs?


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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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Green Job Growth Drivers

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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


• 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?


“Invisible” Skills May Get You the Job

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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


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


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


More non-traditional worker-employer

relationships


TREND #3.Continued

and expanded reliance

on technology

in the workplace


Shifts in job responsibilities and skills needed to

perform jobs

Net increase in the level of skills needed to be

successful in most jobs


TREND #4.

Increasing diversity

in the workplace


Higher level of complexity Involved in

interpersonal interactions


TREND #5.

Employers increasingly

focused on privacy,

security,and ethics concerns


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


TREND #6.

Business processeschange in response to shifts in regulations & mergers/ acquisitions


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

Developing In-Demand Skills for a Changing Job Market: A Workshop for Alumni Rutgers University...

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