Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements—Education and Career Advancement

SHRM Survey Findings: Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements—Education and Career Advancement

October 3, 2012

In collaboration with and commissioned by Achieve

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• This is the third part of a series of SHRM/Achieve survey findings titled “Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements.” These results look at education and career advancement.

• The following nine industries were included in the sample. Overall results are reported first, followed by industry-specific results for the following industries:

Construction, mining, oil and gas

Federal government

Finance

Health

High-tech

Manufacturing

Professional services

State and local government

Nonprofessional services

Introduction

SHRM/Achieve Survey: Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements—Education and Career Advancement©SHRM 2012

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• Are employees with only a high school diploma or equivalent able to advance their careers? Yes, in many cases they can advance. Overall, 87% of organizations reported that employees with a high school diplomas or equivalent are eligible for promotion at least some of the time, with 23% saying that these employees are “always” eligible for promotion.

• What are the most common career pathways available for employees with only a high school diploma or equivalent and with no further education, postsecondary certification or credentials? Promotions up to an hourly supervisor/team lead position (43%) and one-step promotions (39%) are the most common career paths available for such employees across all organizations. However, 38% of organizations said that the opportunities for such employees were “endless,” depending on the aptitude and work ethic of the employee.

• What are the industries in which employees with only a high school diploma or equivalent are most likely to be able to advance in their careers? Manufacturing (57%), health (50%) and state/local government (48%) were most likely to offer such employees promotions up to hourly supervisor/team lead positions. However, nonprofessional services (53%), high-tech (51%) and finance (51%) were most likely to say that the possibilities were endless for such employees with the right aptitude and work ethic.

Key Findings


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• Overall across industries, what type of additional training do employees at various job levels need in order to advance in a career pathway?

– Labor, low-skilled: Job-specific training (56%), followed by technical training, including math and science training (21%), and remedial education (20%).

– Labor, skilled: Job-specific training (61%), followed by other professional development (31%) and technical training, including math and science training (30%).

– Administrative/secretarial: Job-specific training (69%), followed by other professional development (58%) and technical training, including math and science training (15%).

– Salaried individual contributor/professional: Other professional development (76%), followed by job-specific training (58%) and technical training, including math and science training (15%).

– Management: Other professional development (81%), followed by job-specific training (50%) and technical training, including math and science training (10%).

– Executive: Other professional development (63%), followed by job-specific training (31%). Only a small number (7%) said technical training would be needed for this group.

Key Findings


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• Overall across industries, what type of additional education do employees at various job levels need in order to advance in a career pathway?

– Labor, low-skilled: Attainment of postsecondary certification/credentials (30%), an associate’s degree (13%) and a bachelor’s degree or above (8%).

– Labor, skilled: Attainment of postsecondary certification/credentials (30%), an associate’s degree (20%) and a bachelor’s degree or above (15%).

– Administrative/secretarial: Attainment of a bachelor’s degree or above (30%), an associate’s degree (27%) and postsecondary certification/credentials (19%).

– Salaried individual contributor/professional: Attainment of a bachelor’s degree or above (51%) followed by postsecondary certification/credentials (13%) and an associate’s degree (8%)

– Management: Attainment of a bachelor’s degree or above (51%), distantly followed by postsecondary certification/credentials (9%) and an associate’s degree (5%).

– Executive: Attainment of a bachelor’s degree or above (39%). Beyond that, there were few additional education requirements for this group (only 5% said attainment of postsecondary certification/credentials would be needed).

Key Findings


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Note: Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. Respondents who answered “Not sure” were excluded from this analysis. Industries are sorted in descending order by the sum of the “Always” and “Most of the time” response options.

Are employees that are hired with a high school diploma or equivalent—with no further education, postsecondary certification or credentials—eligible for promotions OR career advancement at your organization?

All industries (n = 3,542)

Finance (n = 379)

Construction, mining, oil and gas (n = 371)

Nonprofessional Services (n = 260)

High-tech (n = 317)

Federal government (n = 199)

Manufacturing (n = 438)

State/local government (n = 599)

Professional services (n = 525)

Health (n = 454)

2%

2%

0%

1%

2%

3%

2%

1%

4%

2%

12%

8%

9%

7%

15%

10%

10%

11%

16%

18%

37%

30%

31%

36%

32%

37%

40%

41%

36%

44%

27%

30%

32%

28%

20%

27%

26%

29%

24%

22%

23%

30%

28%

28%

31%

24%

22%

18%

19%

14%

Never Rarely Some of the time Most of the time Always


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All Industri

es(n =

3,451)

Construction, Mining, Oil and Gas(n = 368)

Federal Governme

nt(n = 193)

Finance(n = 369)

Health(n = 444)

High-Tech(n = 306)

Manufacturing

(n = 429)

Non-profession

al Services(n = 256)

Professional

Services(n = 500)

State/Local

Government

(n = 586)

Promotions up to an hourly supervisor/team lead position

43% 45% 38% 34% 50% 29% 57% 43% 34% 48%

One-step promotions 39% 32% 44% 34% 46% 38% 45% 35% 37% 42%

Endless, depends on person's aptitude and work ethic

38% 49% 41% 51% 23% 51% 31% 53% 34% 26%

Lateral moves 38% 30% 41% 33% 47% 38% 39% 36% 34% 40%

Promotions up to a management level, but not typically beyond a frontline manager level

25% 29% 28% 27% 19% 18% 30% 29% 17% 30%

Other 4% 4% 8% 4% 4% 5% 4% 2% 6% 4%

Generally, at your organization, what are the career pathways available for employees with only a high school diploma or equivalent with no further education, postsecondary certification or credentials?

Note: Percentages may not total 100% due to multiple response options. Only respondents who indicated that employees with a high school diploma or equivalent were eligible for promotions or career advancement were asked this question.


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For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional training do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? All Industries

Note: Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple response options.

Labor, low-skilled(n = 3,350)

Labor, skilled(n = 3,353)

Administrative/secretarial(n = 3,392)

Salaried individual contributor/professional

(n = 3,410)

Management(n = 3,446)

Executive(n = 3,414)

20%

10%

10%

4%

4%

3%

21%

30%

15%

15%

10%

7%

56%

61%

69%

58%

50%

31%

19%

31%

58%

76%

81%

63%

4%

2%

4%

2%

3%

13%

29%

25%

5%

8%

7%

18%

N/A; no training needed

No promotions available

Other professional devel-opment

Job-specific training

Technical training, including math and science education

Remedial education (e.g., basic math, communication skills)


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For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional training do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Construction, Mining, Oil and Gas


Labor, low-skilled(n = 344)

Labor, skilled(n = 347)

Administrative/secretarial(n = 346)


(n = 343)

Management(n = 349)

Executive(n = 347)

29%

17%

17%

6%

8%

5%

28%

41%

21%

17%

12%

8%

73%

82%

72%

57%

53%

33%

18%

36%

60%

76%

83%

62%

3%

1%

4%

3%

3%

14%

11%

6%

3%

9%

7%

20%








10

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional training do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Federal Government






(n = 189)

Management(n = 191)

Executive(n = 192)

17%

8%

9%

1%

2%

0%

26%

29%

19%

15%

9%

6%

56%

67%

67%

56%

49%

29%

20%

34%

56%

74%

84%

63%

4%

2%

3%

2%

2%

11%

29%

21%

6%

9%

4%

17%








11

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional training do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Finance






(n = 363)

Management(n = 368)

Executive(n = 359)

9%

6%

13%

6%

6%

5%

7%

12%

12%

14%

12%

8%

30%

34%

77%

66%

62%

46%

11%

17%

50%

70%

81%

75%

5%

4%

3%

2%

1%

7%

58%

56%

5%

7%

5%

10%








12

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional training do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Health






(n = 435)

Management(n = 442)

Executive(n = 438)

23%

8%

8%

2%

3%

1%

25%

30%

16%

12%

6%

4%

60%

64%

68%

53%

43%

23%

22%

31%

61%

83%

85%

61%

4%

4%

3%

2%

2%

17%

21%

20%

3%

4%

5%

18%








13

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional training do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? High-tech






(n = 329)

Management(n = 327)

Executive(n = 327)

10%

7%

8%

2%

3%

2%

14%

25%

13%

22%

12%

9%

38%

51%

69%

68%

54%

34%

18%

26%

58%

76%

82%

69%

6%

4%

4%

0%

1%

8%

52%

38%

8%

8%

9%

18%








14

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional training do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Manufacturing






(n = 418)

Management(n = 422)

Executive(n = 417)

36%

16%

10%

5%

5%

3%

35%

50%

16%

19%

13%

8%

80%

80%

62%

56%

48%

29%

22%

45%

63%

81%

81%

62%

0%

0%

3%

2%

3%

15%

6%

3%

5%

6%

7%

18%








15

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional training do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Nonprofessional Services






(n = 244)

Management(n = 249)

Executive(n = 244)

27%

11%

10%

8%

8%

6%

14%

23%

11%

11%

10%

8%

68%

62%

70%

57%

55%

34%

23%

28%

53%

67%

76%

57%

1%

1%

2%

1%

4%

14%

19%

26%

8%

15%

8%

21%








16

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional training do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Professional Services






(n = 528)

Management(n = 531)

Executive(n = 532)

11%

5%

7%

3%

3%

2%

14%

17%

11%

16%

11%

6%

36%

42%

69%

58%

49%

32%

14%

23%

56%

74%

79%

64%

5%

4%

5%

4%

6%

13%

51%

45%

7%

6%

7%

17%








17

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional training do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? State/Local Government






(n = 561)

Management(n = 567)

Executive(n = 558)

22%

10%

9%

4%

3%

2%

26%

35%

16%

13%

8%

6%

63%

69%

68%

54%

45%

26%

22%

39%

61%

76%

80%

56%

5%

2%

3%

4%

5%

16%

20%

14%

5%

7%

7%

22%








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For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional education do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? All Industries


Labor, low-skilled(n = 3,282)

Labor, skilled(n = 3,286)

Administrative/secretarial(n = 3,307)


(n = 3,332)

Management(n = 3,347)

Executive(n = 3,303)

30%

30%

19%

13%

9%

5%

13%

20%

27%

8%

5%

1%

0%

15%

30%

51%

51%

39%

5%

3%

5%

4%

5%

14%

56%

48%

38%

34%

37%

43%

N/A; no education needed


Attainment of a bachelor’s degree or above

Attainment of an associate’s degree

Attainment of postsecondary certification/credential(s)


19

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional education do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Construction, Mining, Oil and Gas






(n = 341)

Management(n = 340)

Executive(n = 339)

37%

38%

23%

14%

12%

7%

7%

16%

27%

9%

6%

2%

6%

11%

22%

46%

44%

32%

5%

2%

5%

4%

4%

14%

54%

47%

42%

39%

42%

50%







20

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional education do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Federal Government






(n = 184)

Management(n = 187)

Executive(n = 185)

30%

34%

18%

11%

9%

6%

18%

20%

28%

7%

3%

1%

11%

19%

30%

51%

48%

40%

4%

3%

4%

4%

7%

11%

51%

41%

37%

35%

38%

45%







21

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional education do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Finance






(n = 356)

Management(n = 359)

Executive(n = 353)

11%

13%

14%

14%

11%

8%

6%

9%

21%

10%

7%

2%

4%

6%

24%

42%

48%

47%

4%

3%

3%

2%

3%

9%

79%

74%

51%

41%

39%

38%







22

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional education do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Health






(n = 431)

Management(n = 426)

Executive(n = 424)

45%

39%

22%

10%

8%

4%

20%

30%

36%

9%

4%

1%

13%

21%

37%

65%

60%

36%

5%

3%

5%

5%

5%

18%

39%

33%

25%

20%

29%

43%







23

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional education do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? High-tech






(n = 315)

Management(n = 320)

Executive(n = 317)

18%

22%

19%

12%

8%

5%

12%

18%

25%

6%

3%

1%

6%

17%

30%

52%

53%

44%

6%

4%

5%

1%

3%

9%

66%

53%

39%

37%

39%

43%







24

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional education do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Manufacturing






(n = 404)

Management(n = 408)

Executive(n = 400)

37%

38%

17%

10%

5%

4%

17%

28%

32%

11%

6%

2%

12%

23%

34%

58%

59%

43%

4%

3%

3%

3%

3%

15%

49%

32%

35%

30%

35%

40%







25

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional education do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Nonprofessional Services






(n = 240)

Management(n = 245)

Executive(n = 237)

25%

24%

12%

10%

7%

3%

9%

12%

21%

9%

6%

1%

7%

10%

20%

39%

43%

38%

2%

1%

4%

3%

4%

15%

66%

61%

54%

46%

45%

46%







26

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional education do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? Professional Services






(n = 515)

Management(n = 516)

Executive(n = 509)

18%

17%

19%

17%

10%

7%

10%

13%

20%

5%

3%

1%

8%

15%

32%

43%

45%

35%

7%

5%

8%

7%

8%

14%

66%

59%

37%

38%

40%

46%







27

For each of the employee categories below, what type of additional education do employees at your organization need in order to advance in a career pathway? State/Local Government






(n = 546)

Management(n = 546)

Executive(n = 539)

40%

39%

23%

13%

8%

4%

15%

26%

29%

9%

5%

1%

8%

15%

32%

54%

54%

38%

6%

3%

4%

5%

6%

18%

45%

38%

33%

31%

33%

41%







Survey Methodology

SHRM Survey Findings: Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements—Education and Career Advancement

In collaboration with and commissioned by Achieve

• Response rate = 18%

• 4,695 HR professional respondents from a randomly selected sample of nine different industries in SHRM’s membership

Construction, mining, oil and gas = 491

Federal government = 356

Finance = 530

Health = 526

High-tech = 447

• Margin of error +/-1%

• Survey fielded March 28-April 30, 2012

Manufacturing = 526

Professional services = 492

State and local government = 848

Nonprofessional services = 479

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SHRM/Achieve Survey: Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements—Education and Career Advancement ©SHRM 2012

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SHRM Survey Findings: Changing Employee Skills and Education Requirements

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