Apprenticeship training is strongly developed in Switzerland. During the COVID-19 pandemic, training firms however faced severe difficulties and many decided not to (or were unable to) hire apprentices. To minimize negative consequences, authorities from the canton of Geneva introduced a series of measures to support the creation of apprenticeship…

Background: Individuals with intellectual disabilities have the lowest employment rates amongst all disability types, despite available job opportunities. Employer bias is a significant barrier to their workforce participation. This research examines employers' opinions towards hiring individuals with intellectual disabilities in Serbia. Method:…

This paper explores the potential of online micro-credentials, a novel learning approach that awards credentials after short educational experiences, as a viable solution to bridging the soft skills gap in the workforce. Using a qualitative foresight research design, the study analyzes and synthesizes insights gathered from 85 in-depth interviews…

Purpose: This study explores the perceptions of Australian employers regarding the benefits and challenges of micro-credentials within higher education and enablers of their effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach that included 11 semi-structured interviews with employers affiliated with an Australian university was…

This paper examines the use of informal training for workers, by Australian companies and other organisations. Using survey data, it reports the prevalence of informal training and also the utilisation of different types of informal training. Differences are found by employer size, particularly for the different types. By examining qualitative…

Purpose: The research presented in this paper deepens our understanding of the experience of apprentices and employers engaged in degree apprenticeships. Design/methodology/approach: The research is focused upon ten in depth interviews. Data collection and analysis was undertaken following a grounded theory approach. Findings: The data analysis…

Individuals with a high school education represent the largest subset of the U.S. workforce. However, little is known about the employer expectations of these individuals, particularly in the area of soft skills--also known as 21st-century skills. Online job advertisements offer useful data for examining these expectations, as they may supplement…

Employment is a defining aspect of adult life as well as a protective factor for youth involved in the juvenile justice system, but employment rates for juvenile-justice-involved youth are substantially lower than for their noninvolved peers. Interventions have been developed to increase employment for juvenile-justice-involved youth, yet few…

Employment is a defining aspect of adult life as well as a protective factor for youth involved in the juvenile justice system, but employment rates for juvenile-justice-involved youth are substantially lower than for their noninvolved peers. Interventions have been developed to increase employment for juvenile-justice-involved youth, yet few…

National best practice guidelines for early childhood intervention (ECI) were first published in Australia in 2016, but research into the implementation of these guidelines has been limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the role descriptions of ECI positions advertised by Australian employers aligned with the best…

The rapid growth of technology and computer science, which has led to a surge in demand for skilled professionals in this field. The skill set required for computer science jobs has evolved rapidly, creating challenges for those already in the workforce who need to adapt their skills quickly to meet industry demands. To stay ahead of the curve, it…

This paper explores the skills that Hong Kong employers and graduates see as important to have in the workplace as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our data are interviews with 40 employers and 69 graduates in the territory. Using reflexive thematic analysis, our qualitative findings center around four themes. First, we highlight the necessity…

Established and well-known employers in Bangladesh often complain that suitable candidates are not available for employment in their organizations, despite the millions of unemployed graduates in the country. This bears clear witness that graduates in Bangladesh are mostly unable to fulfill the needs and expectations of established and well-known…

Purpose: As a part of a larger study, the purpose of this study was to explore the learning outcomes for the "manager as coach" when exemplary managers are engaged in coaching their respective employees. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative, multi-case study using an adaptation of the critical incident technique (CIT) and…

Geoscience employers have increasingly called for the future workforce (students) to demonstrate competence in non-technical skills, including teamwork. This descriptive qualitative study contributes to ongoing efforts to identify the specific practices, skills, habits, and knowledge that make up these desired teamwork competencies in the…