Hoosier Employers Say They Have Trouble Finding Workers With Soft Skills

Indiana ranks among the bottom of the states for education attainment after high school.  State officials want more Hoosiers to earn postsecondary credentials so they can fill high-skilled, high-paying jobs.  But, employers say lack of education isn’t the only problem to fix.

Indiana state officials want 60 percent of Hoosiers to have some sort of education after high school by the year 2025.  They say that education doesn’t have to be a four-year college degree.

Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann is an industrial engineer by education.  In a workshop held at Muncie’s Ivy Tech campus, she says she worked a co-op job while attending college.  It’s a model she still supports to bring education and experience to young people.

“Employers in the room, please.  If you’re already hiring interns, hire even more.  Maybe you have college students today, go back and look at those high school students," Ellspermann said. "It’s maybe our best talent retention tool.”

Large company representatives say they are ready to hire interns and even full-time employees right now. The problem for them is finding people with so-called “soft skills.”  A survey of more than 500 employers by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce says the skills most lacking in job applicants are work ethic, problem-solving, and attendance.

Some companies are finding creative solutions to teach soft skills.  Rick Barnett is the vice president of engineering at Indiana Marujun, an auto parts supplier for Honda and Subaru.  He says Marujun gives an attendance bonus to its employees.  If you show up to work every day on time for eight weeks, you’ll earn a $1 an hour bonus that continues as long as you keep up your good attendance.

“And that was just one thing we thought to entice them.  Hit them in the wallet, right or wrong," Barnett said. "I can’t give percentage, but it’s definitely made a difference.  And people say, you know, ‘I can’t lose that bonus, I’ve got to get there on time.’  You know, they’re talking about it, so you know they’re paying attention to it.”

Barnett says his company is looking for people to maintain all the highly-technical equipment that’s hitting many factory floors.  He says those jobs – with overtime – can earn more than company administrators without the need for a four-year degree.  But those jobs also require the problem-solving soft skills that many companies are having trouble finding.