Globalization has offshored low skills manufacturing, leaving industry in the United States to adjust business models, install ever-advancing technology, and incorporate automation on their production floor. These advances in precision and computer-aided work require a labor force with technical and "soft" skills to operate complex…

This qualitative research study sought to uncover the benefits of an employer-tailored training intervention in addressing employer knowledge, perspectives, and attitudes regarding employing an individual with a visual impairment, with the ultimate goal of identifying a way to positively impact the high unemployment rate amongst this population.…

This study applies social cognitive theory (SCT) to better understand workplace equity for neurodivergent employees. The purpose of this study was to learn more about the best practices and barriers to implementing increased workplace neurodiverse equity recruiting and retaining neurodivergent individuals. This included interviews with nine…

The purpose of this qualitative document review study is to investigate the potential gaps between which skills and competencies students are learning in associate degree accounting programs at community colleges in the Minnesota State College system and what employers are seeking in entry-level accounting position applicants in Minnesota. For the…

Purpose: This study investigates the effectiveness of ROTC programs in equipping students with competency-based skills crucial for career readiness. Methodology: Through a content analysis of ROTC curricula and employer expectations, this study compares what is being taught in ROTC to what employers expect college graduates to know. Key Findings:…

Employees' insufficient soft skills have the potential to lead to collaboration and organizational inefficiency. Business leaders are concerned with the critical issue of insufficient soft skills among information technology (IT) professionals because these skills are essential for the effective functioning of teams and overall organizational…

Literature and research span a multitude of ways to define critical thinking. It is used frequently and interchangeably within academia and the workforce based on the context and experiences of the individual. Amidst the ambiguity and complexity in a composite definition of critical thinking, over the past years, it continues to rank in the top…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how hiring managers describe the importance of education and industry related/real-world experience as criteria in hiring recent business graduates for the Consumer Products Goods industry in the United States. The theoretical foundations for the study were the CareerEDGE Model, and…

Current workplace learning for those who work in businesses that host a Project SEARCH program (a high school transition-to-work program) is not cohesive and comprehensive enough to sufficiently promote the equity and inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce. Consequently, young adults with disabilities may experience implicit or…

This non-experimental descriptive quantitative applied dissertation was designed to identify and analyze the soft employability skills desired by mid-Atlantic employers of business school graduates in a post-pandemic environment. The study evaluated alignment of the competencies possessed by business school graduates and the desired skills of…

Despite completing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, Students with Disabilities (SWD) are less likely than their nondisabled peers to secure middle-skill employment related to their training. This discrepancy is due to insufficient support and interagency collaboration to help overcome transitional barriers and build relevant work…

The purpose of this study was to examine the digital literacy of Gen Z employees in higher education and provide implications for HRD research and practice and contribute to the HRD literature on Gen Z employees in the 21st century workforce. Three research questions guided my study: How do Gen Z employees in higher education experience digital…