Award Date

1-1-1999

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Committee Member

Clifford McClain

Number of Pages

170

Abstract

This study utilized quantitative research methodology and incorporated a descriptive research design that described the perceptions of southern Nevada employers who responded to a survey regarding the importance of the workplace basic skills identified by the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) established by the U.S. Department of Labor. The study sought to determine whether the SCANS skills and competencies were perceived by responding employers as necessary for entry-level employment. Over 75 percent of respondents to the survey essentially considered the SCANS skills and competencies as adequately identifying competencies and skills needed for entry-level employment in their respective business. However, the study revealed a notable difference between the specific SCANS skills employers regarded as needed for entry-level employment verses the SCANS skills employers perceived their entry-level employees as currently possessing; An additional objective determined the extent to which respondents perceived the possession of SCANS skills and competencies among their entry-level employees effected productivity and profitability. Approximately 94 percent of responding firms considered SCANS skills and competencies among their entry-level employees as important-to-necessary to their firm's productivity and profitability; The study further determined that a statistically significant difference (p < .05) between the mean scores on a standard scale of importance for SCANS skills existed between respondents in the retail trade sector and respondents from the finance, insurance and real estate sector. A statistically significant difference at the .05 level also existed between the retail trade sector and the service sector regarding the importance of SCANS skills and competencies. Finally, the study revealed that 68.7% of respondents have implemented their own workplace basic training programs within their own respective organizations.

Keywords

Employers; Entry-level; Importance; Nevada; Regarding; Scans; Secretary's Commission On Achieving Necessary Skills; Skills; Southern; Survey; Workplace Basic Skills

Controlled Subject

School management and organization; Vocational education

File Format

pdf

File Size

4515.84 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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Rights

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