Statistically, young Canadians have been defeated by today’s tight and evolving job market. For quite some time, the unemployment rates for this age group have been double the jobless rate at the national level. According to the Labour Force Survey, in August 2014, employment has decreased by 20 000 among youths aged 15-24, with a steady unemployment rate of 13.4%. Because many of these unemployed youth are recent university graduates who expected accessible and sufficient employment in consequence of obtaining their degrees, universities are being blamed for the lack of preparation provided regarding the contemporary job market. In order to improve such poor statistics, universities must provide extended preparation and opportunities to better
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Many people affirm that it would be more pragmatic to accentuate practical experience as much as accommodating theoretical education. Numerous graduates spend years studying to attain a certain university degree, to later realize that all that knowledge does not make up for their inefficient workplace background. This is because it is popularly assumed that a higher education is the way to a better career and happier life, neglecting the requirement of practice within the idealized establishment. In contrast, college graduates are achieving jobs with much less effort due to hands-on education that helps students gain skills that can be applied to a particular work field. As a matter of fact, many university graduates today are applying to colleges instead of directly entering the labour market. Linda Franklin, president and chief executive officer of Colleges Ontario, …show more content…
Soft skills are supposed to be integrated with hard skills, establishing the occupational requirements of a job. Students are becoming outstanding in writing exemplary essays for professors, but with the wrong skills prioritized, employers have been complaining about newly graduated employees who lack the required skills needed for the workplace. Students are so competent in communicating behind a screen or on paper, that they have started to lack the confidence to professionally talk face-to-face or in front of a crowd. When writing papers for courses, students have an extensive preparation period in which they are strongly dependent on external materials such as references found via Google. With the help of a thesaurus and numerous proofreads, they are capable of thoroughly disclosing their ideas on a piece of paper. However, when it comes to thinking on their feet in the real-world, students lack in communication and interpersonal skills. According to an employer survey conducted by a staffing company, Adecco, “40% of respondents cited soft skills, such as communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration, as the area with the biggest gap,” (Martha C. White). As a result, it is essential for universities to provide the opportunity for students to interact with one another to build on soft skills
Many people affirm that it would be more pragmatic to accentuate practical experience as much as accommodating theoretical education. Numerous graduates spend years studying to attain a certain university degree, to later realize that all that knowledge does not make up for their inefficient workplace background. This is because it is popularly assumed that a higher education is the way to a better career and happier life, neglecting the requirement of practice within the idealized establishment. In contrast, college graduates are achieving jobs with much less effort due to hands-on education that helps students gain skills that can be applied to a particular work field. As a matter of fact, many university graduates today are applying to colleges instead of directly entering the labour market. Linda Franklin, president and chief executive officer of Colleges Ontario, …show more content…
Soft skills are supposed to be integrated with hard skills, establishing the occupational requirements of a job. Students are becoming outstanding in writing exemplary essays for professors, but with the wrong skills prioritized, employers have been complaining about newly graduated employees who lack the required skills needed for the workplace. Students are so competent in communicating behind a screen or on paper, that they have started to lack the confidence to professionally talk face-to-face or in front of a crowd. When writing papers for courses, students have an extensive preparation period in which they are strongly dependent on external materials such as references found via Google. With the help of a thesaurus and numerous proofreads, they are capable of thoroughly disclosing their ideas on a piece of paper. However, when it comes to thinking on their feet in the real-world, students lack in communication and interpersonal skills. According to an employer survey conducted by a staffing company, Adecco, “40% of respondents cited soft skills, such as communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration, as the area with the biggest gap,” (Martha C. White). As a result, it is essential for universities to provide the opportunity for students to interact with one another to build on soft skills