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Although employers are seeking talented workers and employees desire opportunities to advance, they often are not on the same page in addressing these objectives.
"As U.S. companies cut jobs and reduce expenses, they are fixating on the next best thing available to them outside of their organization to drive growth," said John Woods, provost and chief academic officer for the University of Phoenix. "This perspective is perpetuating a stagnant talent environment."
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More than half of Americans report feeling easily replaceable in their job position, and 64% of workers said their company does not offer opportunities for internal mobility, according to the university's latest Career Optimism Index. Meanwhile, 44% of employers said their top challenge in finding talent in the past year is a lack of well-qualified applicants. These findings indicate that employers are overlooking the potential to train and elevate their existing workforce to solve business needs, hindering talent progression for both workers and organizations.
Among the other key findings of the survey:
- The last year of layoffs, strikes and economic uncertainty has caused tension for workers. Forty-two percent worry about losing their job because of a bad economy and 38% agreed that their salary or wage has not increased at the same rate as inflation.
- More than half of workers said they are easily replaceable. One-third of workers don't feel recognized by their company's leadership for their contributions, and 27% do not feel empowered in their current job.
- There is a wide disconnect between employer perceptions and worker realities on opportunities for advancement. Although 62% of employers said their company currently offers opportunities for internal mobility, only 36% of workers agree.
Related: Surprise! Working adults are more optimistic today than in 2022
- However, workers do see a need to continue acquiring skills, and they highly value employer investment in training. Three-fourths said they must continue learning new skills to stay ahead in their career, and most said if their company did more to upskill or reskill them and give more opportunities to apply new skills, they would be more likely to stay throughout their career.
- Despite stagnation, workers consistently feel optimistic about the future of their careers and in their abilities, which is an opportunity for employers: 78% are hopeful about the future of their career and 72% feel in control of their professional future.
- Employers are making fewer hires, so when they recruit, they seek the perfect match for the skills they require. Nevertheless, they are struggling to find the right fit externally. Slightly more than half said that in the past year it took more than one month to fill an open position.
"Our Career Optimism Index illustrates that business leaders are overlooking the immense potential of the American workforce, who remain resilient and optimistic despite the macro-environment," Woods said. "These workers possess a significant desire to advance and acquire the skillsets employers are seeking to fortify their businesses for the future."
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Alan Goforth
Alan Goforth is a freelance writer in suburban Kansas City. In addition to freelancing for several publications, he has written a dozen books about sports and other topics.
