Education Disconnect: Businesses Seeking Lessons Not Taught

February 2018 – One of the factors that goes into making California competitive in the global marketplace is to ensure that California businesses are able to draw upon an educated workforce. School districts throughout the state must ensure their students become an educated and skilled workforce.

Though California provides excellent educational institutions and opportunities for individuals to obtain degrees and certificates, there seems to be a disconnect between the education offered and received by the employee base and the needs and demands of the business community.

The business community has indicated that the skills and degrees being obtained by the state’s students are not necessarily the ones that will be needed in the future. In addition, completion rates for California community colleges and universities are not keeping pace with the growing demand for degrees and skills of future jobs.

Of entry-level vacancies, 45% of US employers say lack of skills is the “main reason” these positions are not being filled immediately. This research also shows that employers would be willing to pay new workers 22% higher salaries if they did have the skills they need.

Some other disturbing statistics point to the need for improvements in an educational system that will serve the students in finding employment, and aid employers seeking to find qualified employees. Among these figures are that:

• 50% of undergraduates at 4-year colleges need to take remedial classes; and
• 70% of community college students need to take remedial classes.

Due to these factors, more small businesses support higher academic standards in K-12 education.

Traditionally, discussion about business issues have revolved around – regulations, access to capital, economic outlooks, taxes, and other issues – but without an educated and skilled workforce to employ businesses will still have to look elsewhere for their employees.

Business owners depend on their employees to be problem solvers, effective communicators, and collaborators. Yet, too many students are graduating high school without even the most basic skills such as how to manage money or write clearly. Businesses are a direct customer of the local school system, students coming out of the classroom, to enter the job market must be prepared with the tools they need to succeed and help local businesses grow.