| The study was conducted to assess what types of skills employers of small businesses (2--100 employees) in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Georgia, and Delaware required of high school graduates to be employed and remain employed in their companies. In addition, these frequently selected and ranked entry-level and job-retention skills were compared to see if they were stressed and taught extensively in the Agency for Instructional Technology (AIT)'s Applied Communication program and career technical/business English courses in these same five states.; In the literature review 47 skills were identified in twelve research studies. These 47 skills were sub-divided into seven skill categories on the employers' survey and educators' survey: Job Readiness, Interview Technique Skills, Work Attitude/Habits, Problem-Solving, Communication Skills, Health Habits, and Special Technology Skills.; The Fisher's Exact Test and a t-test were used for statistical treatment. Within AIT's program significant differences occurred in 15 job skills. The teachers with greater than 10 years of teaching experience stressed and taught extensively more Communication Skills. The teachers with less than or equal to 10 years stressed and taught extensively more Work Attitude/Habits. Out of the 47 job skills, AIT's teachers stressed and taught extensively 32 and the career technical teachers stressed and taught extensively 24 job skills. The AIT's teachers stressed and taught extensively 28 job skills at a higher percentage rate than the career technical teachers.; The researcher found that in the ranking of 15 job skills, employers selected similar job skills as both important entry-level and job-retention skills. The most important skills were Follow directions, Communicate orally, Perform job specific skills, Perform math computations, Accept responsibility, and Work as a team member.; Out of the 47 job skills the five most frequently selected entry-level skills were Appropriate dress, Personal hygiene, Good attendance, Speak clearly, and Follow directions. The five most frequently selected job-retention skills were Lifetime learner, Self-direction, Well-organized, Solve problems, and Self-motivated. The categories for the twenty frequently selected entry-level and job-retention skills were Work Attitude/Habits, Communication Skills , and Problem-Solving Skills. Another category for entry-level was Interview Technique Skills.; The researcher found a mismatch between the employers' and educators' perceptions on Computer skills. This job skill was viewed as less important to employers as an entry-level and job-retention skill. However, educators in AIT's program and career technical courses stressed and taught Computer skills extensively. |
