Which jobs are hard to fill?
In the second quarter of 2018, approximately 41 percent of all jobs posted online in the Pittsburgh Metro region were considered hard to fill. Between April and June, it took regional employers longer to fill some 26,000 open positions compared to the national average for those same occupations. So, why are employers finding it hard to fill these jobs?
Partner4Work’s new Hard to Fill Jobs report informs this discussion by presenting real-time information – not historic jobs data – to help answer questions such as: Which jobs are hard to fill by employers? Which skills are most in demand? And, what are the most common certifications requested for these jobs?
In the latest report, one of the main takeaways is that half of these jobs (51 percent) require only a high school diploma or career training, while about two-thirds require no more than two years of experience. And, while about one-third of the top 25 occupations featured in the report require higher levels of education, such as physicians, nurse practitioners, and civil engineers, those considered opportunity occupations, such as truck drivers and customer service reps, dominate the top 10 in this list.
A closer look at the top skills required, including tech skills, suggests that employers are placing a lot of interest in both a candidate’s experience working with customers, to ensure their satisfaction with a product or service, and their ability to use software applications and technology to manage the day-to-day activities of a business.
Answering the question of why employers are finding it hard to fill some jobs in our region is complex, and most likely involves a combination of factors, such as the skills gap, wage mismatch, potentially inflated credential and experience requirements, demand outpacing supply for an occupation, and structural barriers. However, in the broadest sense, it will require a deep collaboration between employers, workforce development professionals, education and training providers, and public officials to build a talent pipeline capable of serving the needs of the Pittsburgh area.
Author: Edgar Largaespada, MID, Partner4Work research fellow
Nationally recognized for innovation, Partner4Work delivers workforce solutions for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to ensure the current and future needs of businesses and job seekers are met. As stewards of more than $25 million in public and private workforce funds, Partner4Work oversees and funds workforce programs for adults, dislocated workers, and youth; educates the community through robust labor market analytics; and implements innovative solutions to the region's systemic workforce challenges. Partner4Work bridges the gap between people looking for work and companies in need of talent. More information is available at www.partner4work.org.