Date of Award
1995
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Business
First Advisor
Edward Griffin Smith
Second Advisor
James Lister
Third Advisor
Joseph Ancona
Abstract
This thesis will focus on the study of the impact of corporate training programs and business education partnerships on the skills gap of the American workforce.
Research indicates that there is an emerging crisis in the American workplace. Increased demand for highly skilled workers, combined with an aging workforce, has created shortages of skilled workers, shortages that are predicted to grow for many years to come. This shortage of skilled workers required by employers is defined as the skills gap.
Some of the causes of the skills gap are demographic trends, technological change and increased international competition. One major factor contributing to the skills gap is the low levels of achievement among students leaving our nation's schools. Employers report that alarming numbers of young job applicants have such poor reading and computation skills that it is impossible to provide them with job-specific training. The skills shortfall is not confined to new or prospective workers. Large numbers of experienced workers have skills that are now obsolete by changes in technology or by declines in specific industries.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of training programs, both remedial and job specific, being taught in the workplace. These programs are intended to provide a foundation for employees to build their skills and ultimately improve productivity and quality. The study also looks at business/education partnerships designed and implemented with the goal of graduating students from the nations schools with the skills needed by employers to be competitive in a global marketplace.
Results of the analysis produced evidence to suggest that the hypothesis is accepted and to conclude that these training programs and partnerships are necessary and vital if the skills gap of the American is to be reduced or eventually eliminated.
Recommended Citation
Romeo, Clare G., "The Impact of Corporate Training Programs and Business/Education Partnerships on the Skills Gap of the American Workforce" (1995). Theses. 1287.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theses/1287
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