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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: 202-219-6871.
A nationwide study designed to assess Americans' job skills
will further define requirements for success in the workforce, Secretary of
Labor Robert B. Reich and Secretary of Education Richard Riley announced
today.
"We have known for some time that well-defined job skills
are key to success in the workplace," Reich said. "Now we have concrete
evidence of specific skill areas which contribute to productivity."
"As educators restructure America's high schools to make
the important link between school and work, this study can help assure that the
right skills are being taught," Riley said.
The initial phase of the National Job Analysis Study,
conducted by researchers at American College Testing, shows that customer
service, computer skills and safeguarding information are among the most
important and frequently performed activities in the workplace today. Other
highly rated areas include scheduling and managing work activities and
providing information to other people.
Based on a survey of 12,000 workers in 6,000 organizations,
the study reviewed more than 200 common activities that contribute to
productivity on the job. Job areas selected represented 164 of the fastest
growing occupations in the country. The study was funded jointly by the U.S.
departments of education and labor.
Workers participating in the survey were asked whether an
activity is performed as part of their occupation, how important the activity
is to their productivity and how frequently the activity is performed.
Approximately 3,000 workers from 1,600 work organizations
returned completed surveys.
Of the occupations represented, secretaries returned the
largest number of surveys (191), followed by registered nurses (115), college
faculty (100), secondary school teachers (98) and bookkeeping/accounting clerks
(92). Responses were also received from engineers, postal carriers,
salespersons, education administrators, librarians, bank tellers, auto
mechanics, freight movers, machine operators and police officers.
According to the survey results, approximately 82 percent
of respondents said they listened to customers as part of their job, and they
rated this behavior as the most important and most frequent of the activities
listed on the survey.
Also rated highly were the ability to use a computer to
locate, process, or communicate information; scheduling work activities;
providing information; determining the priority of work activities;
collaborating with people in other departments; judging the importance, quality
and accuracy of information; coordinating one's own work activities with the
activities of others.
Also rated highly were the ability to use a computer to
locate, process, or communicate information; scheduling work activities;
providing information; determining the priority of work activities;
collaborating with people in other departments; judging the importance, quality
and accuracy of information; coordinating one's own work activities with the
activities of others.
The second phase of the study, scheduled to begin early
next year, will also include a questionnaire for business executives. It will
identify workplaces that use high-performance practices that focus on quality
and customer satisfaction, flexible culture and openness to change, leadership
with clear vision, information sharing and other factors.
With the data from these two surveys, researchers will be
able to identify work activities critical in the most competitive business
environments. Results will provide the basis for a system of job profiles
directly connected to courses taught in the nation's schools.
"Once completed, this study will provide a new language
for setting priorities in job training across occupations," said Reich. "It
will help people move into the workforce, make transitions from one job to
another and monitor shifts in work requirements and skills."
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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