Workers across multiple demographics state that a lack of hard and soft skills are holding them back from career advancement
ROCHESTER, NY-New research from Paychex, Inc., a leading provider of integrated human capital management software solutions for human resources, payroll, benefits, and insurance services, indicates that employers can build and retain top talent by offering educational and skill-building opportunities for employees.
The survey of over 600 employees nationwide, conducted in partnership with Future Workplace, an Executive Networks member company, highlights workers' desires to sharpen their skills and advance their careers with the support of their employers. In fact, 63% of respondents said they would be more likely to stay at their organization if they were provided with better learning opportunities.
The report further revealed that employers are providing the right learning and development opportunities for full-time, in-office employees, but have gaps to fill when it comes to remote, hybrid, and part-time workers.
"The American work experience is more varied than ever before — even between workers in the same roles," said Alison Stevens, director of HR Services at Paychex. "We're seeing skill gaps grow as employees increasingly get to choose working arrangements that fit their lifestyles. With employees yearning for more educational and career-building experiences, employers will need to pay attention to the differences between these groups to curate programs that keep employees engaged and stimulated regardless of their time in an office."
Employees are more likely to stay with employers who offer robust educational and career-building opportunities
Most employees (64%) strongly agree/agree that they are satisfied with their organization's opportunities for career advancement, though those who work fully remote are more likely to disagree (14%) than those who are fully on-site (8%) or hybrid (7%). Those who work full-time (69%) are more likely to be satisfied than those who work part-time (58%).
Still, most employees (63%) say they would be more likely to stay at their organization if they were provided with better career advancement opportunities. Millennials are most likely to hold this view, with 74% saying they'd be more likely to stay at their organization with more opportunities to learn and grow, compared to 63% of Gen X, 62% of Gen Z, and 45% of Baby Boomers. Those who are more likely to agree with the above sentiment also vary somewhat by industry:
- Construction (76%)
- Education and health services (60%)
- Retail, trade, transportation, and utilities (59%)
- Leisure and hospitality (42%)
Note: For purposes of this study, Gen Z is defined as those born between 1997 and 2015, Millennials are defined as those born between 1981 and 1996, Gen X is defined as those born between 1965 and 1980, and Boomers are defined as those born between 1946 and 1964.