“The Morning Briefing” is SmartPlanet’s daily roundup of must-reads from the web. This morning we’re reading about skill shortages across the globe.
1.) Collaboration essential to overcome skills shortage. Canada’s level of productivity has slipped among OECD nations, from third in 1960, to 11th in 1990 and to 17th in 2010. One of the key reasons for this declining productivity is the often-noted and omnipresent skills shortage.
2.) Will skill shortages affect Norway’s North Sea growth? A poll of delegates at the Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) conference has revealed concerns that a shortage of skilled professionals could prevent Norway from taking advantage of large oil reserves recently discovered in the North Sea.
3.) Security skills shortage, or training failure? Most IT security groups are short-handed and can’t find good people to hire, research says. But the real issue may be failure to invest in training new and current personnel.
4.) Job training worth more than a degree. Vocational education and training graduates are outperforming their university counterparts on salary and employment rates, as the skills shortage increasingly bites.
5.) New center aims to fill manufacturing skills gap. At Universal Woods, a factory in Jeffersontown’s Bluegrass Commerce Park, jobs start at $12.50 an hour and average more than $15 an hour — with benefits including health insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan and paid vacation. No college degree or special certification is required.
Image credit: Greg Younger
