Editorial: Learning job skills

COVID-19 and its constellation of social traumas have disrupted job-market conditions in distressing ways for employers and employees alike. But from that turmoil, new initiatives to reshape the workforce in a positive way have emerged as well — including outreach to potential workers still in high school.

This makes sense on multiple levels. Government and business should support these efforts as potential solutions for short- and long-term labor needs. And happily, some stakeholders are already doing so, according to the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

The association conducted a survey of businesses in May and found that 86% report difficulties hiring employees as the state economy climbs out of the recession caused by pandemic restrictions. For a variety of reasons — including federal supplemental payments Congress enacted as well as household scheduling concerns — some workers have postponed returning to work as jobs become available.

In response, 60% of survey respondents said they are adapting to cope — paying overtime, changing schedules or reducing hours — while 64% considered the incentives approach, such as pay hikes, signing bonuses and referral fees.

For the present, this surely has opened more summer job opportunities to younger workers who can benefit from the income and experience. But employers are increasingly recognizing the need to prepare the future labor force for the basics of job-hunting.

The Chamber hosted more than 650 students from Campbell, Kapolei, Pearl City and Waipahu high schools in virtual mock job interviews over the past school year. Interviews, resume-writing and understanding employer expectations are foundational. And it has other pilot orientation programs for high school students contemplating engineering or health-care careers, as well as existing career “pathways” laid out for college-level young adults.

This is encouraging progress. No longer can businesses afford to be less-than-an-active player in the effort to groom their future employees, simply observing that the workers with the right skills aren’t out there.

Long term, what has been a tumultuous period may yield an evolution in workplaces, with enhanced wages and conditions in some cases and, for employers, workers who are better prepared and trained — a win-win by any definition.