Employers aren't preparing workers for future tech roles, survey says

Dive Brief:

More than half the respondents in a new study think employers aren't preparing workers for future tech jobs, according to a nationwide consumer survey by Researchscape for Coding Dojo, a firm specializing in programming literacy. And even more respondents (90%) think employers — not workers — are mainly responsible for upskilling staff.
Survey respondents said they need more training in tech-skills development. More than half (57%) said they don't have basic coding skills, and 12% said they aren't tech literate at all and that they struggle with basic applications, such as social media and smartphones.
The respondents gave recommendations for employers, which include offering workers incentives for enrolling in coding classes outside of work; fostering more communication between tech and non-tech workers to increase understanding; investing in upskilling for non-tech employees; hosting fun events to increase learning, such as "code your own emoji" events; and equipping workers with future tech skills to boost their careers.

Dive Insight:

A regular complaint among workers is that they're not receiving adequate training. Just four out of 10 workers in a Gartner study said their employers were helping them develop skills.

By contrast, 80% of workers in a 2017 Randstad U.S. survey said upskilling was their own responsibility, but neither they nor their employers were taking any action. Calls for more training mean workers recognize their skills deficiencies and that HR has an opportunity to see that those deficiencies are addressed.

Tech skills need continuous upgrading, given the rapid change in technological applications. The future of work and the digital transformation will likely require more advanced skills, and workers must be prepared to meet the demand. But to get there, some employers have begun teaming up with outside parties, including universities, cities and nonprofits, to educate their workers.

The respondents' recommendations in the Coding Dojo survey can not only help organizations get workers upskilled, they also can be strategies for retaining and engaging them. Employees cite career development as a top consideration in deciding whether to stay on a job or look elsewhere for other opportunities. Organizations that prioritize training are positioned to be an employer of choice in a competitive labor market.