Education the key to skills shortage 10:05am 13.04.08

Employers taking an interest in their employees’ careers could well hold the key to retention of staff and a solution to the skills gap.

While the Federal Government advocates education as a broad policy, Philip Guest, managing director of recruitment consultancy Michael Page International, says businesses should also look to education and training. “Companies need to invest in their own growth and in the training and professional development of their employees. Our research shows that career development is the most effective way to retain staff.”
 
Flexibility will also enable businesses to maintain participation rates in the workforce, particularly catering to skilled workers who would otherwise be marginalised with other commitments, such as semi-retired staff and working mothers. “These groups represent a valuable and under-utilised talent pool that can be re-engaged with flexible working arrangements,” says Guest. “Valuable employees, whether working mothers or mature-aged workers, will [otherwise] walk away because they cannot do the job effectively within agreed time frames.”