Fifty-three supervisors in private sector firms and public sector organizations in central Ohio responded to questions about 16 aspects of productivity in the workplace. The firms and organizations with which these supervisors were associated had a history of hiring vocational-technical education graduates as well as those who had pursued other…

This module provides strategies for educators who want to assess employer needs in their communities. In addition, it provides guidelines for organizing and using the information once it is compiled. The guide includes a list of definitions and uses a question-and-answer format to discuss the best method for assessing employer needs, deciding whom…

The Employability Factors Study is a 3-year research effort that focuses on youth's perceptions of the skills and attitudinal attributes needed to get and keep jobs. A preliminary study was made of 1,135 youth enrolled in employability development programs and comparison groups of employed and nonemployed youth not enrolled in such programs. Data…

Written for planners and practitioners in employability skills development programs, this handbook provides information and resources for designing and implementing competency-based instruction. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to basic terms and concepts that make up a competency-based system. It describes four skills required for one to be…

An organized approach to the assessment of the present and anticipated training needs of local business and industry is presented for two-year colleges with an occupational education orientation. The manual first presents a rationale for and a definition of employer needs assessments. Next the requirements for raw and relative data are discussed,…

An exploratory study attempted (1) to learn why some employers use permanent part time employment and others do not, (2) to suggest what the benefits and costs of part-time employment are, and (3) to describe which work settings are well-suited to part time employment and which are not. Data were obtained from personal interviews and mail…

Case studies of 19 U.S. companies involved in welfare-to-work programs found that political and economic factors have accelerated the rate at which employers are hiring welfare recipients. Although participation in welfare-to-work programs is dominated by larger firms in a few industries (such as service and retail sectors), there is potential for…

The purpose of this survey was to obtain from employers the requisite skills and potential employment demand for office workers on Maui. Of particular interest was: (1) the assessment of various clerical skills and computer software in its relevance to the Office Administration & Technology (OAT) curriculum at Maui Community College; and (2)…

In June 1994, Merritt College, in Oakland, California, conducted a study to determine career employment prospects for high school graduates and community college students in programs in the college's Environmental Sciences (ES) department and tech prep program. A sample of 178 organizations from the environmental industry was developed and divided…

This paper provides an overview of the issues and challenges facing postsecondary education in workforce development in the states. Key questions of employer, learner, and government and public expectations are listed as a suggested starting point for discussions between state, education, and business leaders about strategies for addressing these…

To provide a common frame of reference, the Michigan Employability Skills Task Force created a working construct of employability skill categories. The draft framework extended beyond academic competence to include interpersonal, group, and adaptability skills. After task force discussions, the initial five skill categories were compressed into…

Personal interviews were conducted with persons involved in the hiring process in 60 companies throughout Ohio to determine what qualities they seek when they hire young, inexperienced workers at beginning skilled or semiskilled levels. Companies, selected to represent all sections of the state, varied in size. The study found the following: (1)…

A survey of employers showed that high school grade point average had the strongest positive influence in the hiring of young people for entry-level jobs. Eight hundred and fifty employers in three fields (clerical, retailing, and machine trades) were asked to rate application forms of fictitious job seekers for specific positions. Other factors…

In December 1980, a study was conducted by William Rainey Harper College (WRHC) to determine the feasibility of establishing a pharmacy technology program. Professional Life Science and Human Services staff members telephoned 13 hospital pharmacies and four retail pharmacies in WRHC's service area. It was felt that if the 15 responding pharmacies…

The criminal justice curriculum at Prince George's Community College emphasizes a broad social science education, designed to prepare students for immediate employment in law enforcement or for transfer to a four-year program. Program enrollments and student credit hours showed a similar pattern of growth in the mid-1970's, followed by a recent…