Purpose: Motivated by the growing significance of human capital in organisations operating in dynamic environments, as well as the evolving roles and skill requirements of accounting professionals, this exploratory study aims to examine and compare the skill gaps perceived by accounting practitioners and employers. Based on these identified gaps,…

Apprenticeship training is strongly developed in Switzerland. During the COVID-19 pandemic, training firms however faced severe difficulties and many decided not to (or were unable to) hire apprentices. To minimize negative consequences, authorities from the canton of Geneva introduced a series of measures to support the creation of apprenticeship…

Background: Individuals with intellectual disabilities have the lowest employment rates amongst all disability types, despite available job opportunities. Employer bias is a significant barrier to their workforce participation. This research examines employers' opinions towards hiring individuals with intellectual disabilities in Serbia. Method:…

A methodology for assessing the outcomes of required employability skills among recent engineering graduates is crucial for any effective engineering degree program. In this context, this paper presents a methodology for developing an employability skills model to estimate these outcomes by measuring the gap between expected and achieved skill…

Background: People who have a stutter are often viewed negatively by others. Acknowledgement--defined as notifying others up front about characteristics that might lead one to be evaluated negatively--might be an effective impression management strategy for people stigmatized by stuttering. Past research testing this hypothesis, however, has…

This paper explores the potential of online micro-credentials, a novel learning approach that awards credentials after short educational experiences, as a viable solution to bridging the soft skills gap in the workforce. Using a qualitative foresight research design, the study analyzes and synthesizes insights gathered from 85 in-depth interviews…

Purpose: This study explores the perceptions of Australian employers regarding the benefits and challenges of micro-credentials within higher education and enablers of their effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach that included 11 semi-structured interviews with employers affiliated with an Australian university was…

In 2022, industry leaders voiced concerns to policymakers that Idaho was not producing enough engineering and computer science graduates from its public institutions to meet the needs of Idaho's economy. In response, the Idaho State Board of Education commissioned an analysis from Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) to…

This paper examines the use of informal training for workers, by Australian companies and other organisations. Using survey data, it reports the prevalence of informal training and also the utilisation of different types of informal training. Differences are found by employer size, particularly for the different types. By examining qualitative…

Purpose: The research presented in this paper deepens our understanding of the experience of apprentices and employers engaged in degree apprenticeships. Design/methodology/approach: The research is focused upon ten in depth interviews. Data collection and analysis was undertaken following a grounded theory approach. Findings: The data analysis…

Background: The digital literacy landscape has undergone significant changes over the last 5 years, from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic hastened the necessity for advanced digital skills for remote work and online collaboration, while the current AI era…

This study investigated if students and employers may misunderstand each other when discussing competencies and job requirements. Nearly thirty sense-making interviews were conducted with students, employers, academic advisors, and representatives from higher ed industry groups, and the interview transcripts were analyzed to identify patterns and…

Individuals with a high school education represent the largest subset of the U.S. workforce. However, little is known about the employer expectations of these individuals, particularly in the area of soft skills--also known as 21st-century skills. Online job advertisements offer useful data for examining these expectations, as they may supplement…

Employment is a defining aspect of adult life as well as a protective factor for youth involved in the juvenile justice system, but employment rates for juvenile-justice-involved youth are substantially lower than for their noninvolved peers. Interventions have been developed to increase employment for juvenile-justice-involved youth, yet few…

Employment is a defining aspect of adult life as well as a protective factor for youth involved in the juvenile justice system, but employment rates for juvenile-justice-involved youth are substantially lower than for their noninvolved peers. Interventions have been developed to increase employment for juvenile-justice-involved youth, yet few…