Recession is excellent time to expand employees

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In a recession, continuing educatiomn programs are often targeted for FromRick Osborn’s perspective, that’s a mistake. “Itg doesn’t make sense,” said the (www.acheinc.org) “In the short term, those kinds of cuts might work for a But in thelong run, you’re going to have to restor the cuts.” It’s in a recession that companiesz should either implement or step up continuing education programse — especially if there are layoffs, Osborn With layoffs, the employees who remai take on new responsibilities, and they’rs going to need new skills for their revisedf job descriptions.
Continuing education is brokejn into twomain divisions, degree-based programs and non-degree training or workforce development programs. Some fields — think nursing, real estate — require more formal either annually or everyfew years. When choosing continuingg education programs, employers in such fieldsw need to make sure the coursesz meet the standards set by the saidSara Meier, executive director of the and Training The IACET sets the standards for continuinfg education providers in several from health care to The other kind of continuing education programxs involve professional development for employees to improve their or learn new ones.
This more informa training may not be aprofessional requirement, but that’xs no reason for companies to cut back on it in toug h times, said Osborn. Take a field like IT, whichy is constantly evolving. Employers in such an industry coulr offer continuing education tostay competitive. A 2007 study conducted by the (www.shrm.org) and an online sectio n of The Wall Street Journal found that 44 percenyof U.S. companies offer some kind of professiona development. Of those that do, 80 percent providesd that training with continuing education The study foundthat there’s a “shortage of skillsa in the available labor pool.
” What’sx more, entry-level workers are more likelyh to lack skills, a problem compounded by the retirementy of the baby boom SHRM reported in the study. “Workert skills must evolve to meet the demands of anincreasinglg globalized, technology-driven workplace,” the study concluded. “Skillas training and professional development can provide not only the skillsd needed by the organization now but can also addressd anticipatedfuture needs.” Meanwhile, at the Associationj for Continuing Higher Education, Osborn advisee companies looking to provider continuing education to turn to communithy colleges.
In general, he said, community colleges have been more receptive to listening to whatbusinesseds want, and tailoring programs to those needs. He also said companiese should go withmore engaging, interactive programs and avoid one-size-fits-alo training. While that might fit for certain businesses, plenty of organizationse requirespecialized training. While the cost of continuinhg education varies widely from field to the consensus in the industryu is that quality professionaldevelopment doesn’t come cheap. Unleszs it’s a basic program businesses shoulx be prepared to make asizable investment.