DIY skills upgrading for many employees

Gordon Peters
Wednesday, 24 November 2010 13:53

IT People - People

Almost three-quarters of Australians are now prepared to spend their own money on upgrading their skills, instead of waiting for employers to provide training, with many of them also believing they will change their career and reinvent themselves in the future.

According to the latest survey from workforce solutions provider, Kelly Services, employees in the engineering, business services, manufacturing, IT, and travel/leisure industries are most willing to spend their own money to upgrade their skills, and more than 60 per cent believe they will change their career and re-invent themselves.

The findings, part of the Kelly Global workforce Index, which surveyed approximately 134,000 people in 29 countries, including more than 20,000 in Australia.

According to Kelly Services Australia managing director, Karen Colfer, people are now more conscious of staying ahead of the game in both the workplace and the employment market and 'they realise training plays a vital role in that.'

Colfer said the survey results reflect a 'significant shift in the post GFC market,' and she added, 'the GFC killed the ideal of loyalty in the employee/employer relationship and today employees are reluctant to place any trust or faith with their employer. Employees are taking greater personal responsibility for managing their careers and developing new skills.'

The Kelly survey found that, as part of this shift towards employees taking greater control over their careers, a growing number of Australians are developing their own personal 'employee brands', taking steps to differentiate themselves in a fast-changing workplace.

The survey also revealed that personal marketing, or branding, has become a feature of the modern workplace, with respondents identifying the elements they regard as most important in building their identities - verbal communication skills (70 per cent), technical knowledge (62 per cent), résumés (61 per cent), written communications (59 per cent), personal attire (56 per cent) and use of social media (35 per cent).