South Dakota 2016 Employer Survey

The South Dakota Department of Education is undergoing a process to review and revise standards for its career and technical education programs. These standards define what a student should know and be able to do upon completion of a career and technical education program in the state’s secondary schools. We are undertaking this revision process to ensure that our standards are in alignment with the needs of business/industry in the state and that our secondary programs are viable first steps through which students may complete programs of study at the postsecondary level in the state’s technical institutes, universities, or other training institutions.

We need your help to make certain we attain the best possible results through our work. Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions. Your responses will remain anonymous and we will only contact you if you ask that we do so.

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* 1. Which industry sector is your primary service area? (Please select one)

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* 2. Have you experienced hiring difficulties in the last 12 months?

Yes

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* 3. If you responded yes to question 2, what were the primary reasons? (Check all that apply)

Low number of applicants

Applicants lack relevant work experience

Applicants lack education credentials

Applicants lack industry credentials (certifications)

Applicants lack technical or occupational skills

Applicants lack academic foundation (reading,math)

Applicants lack soft skills

Applicants were unwilling to accept offered wages

Applicants were unwilling to accept work conditions

Applicants could not pass drug tests or had a criminal record

Commuting distance

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* 4. If you have experienced hiring difficulties, please list the occupations for which you have experienced challenges.

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* 5. Do you find that applicants are lacking in any of the following soft skills? (Check all that apply )

Attendance Record/Dependability

Communication Skills

Critical or Analytical Thinking

Customer Service

Decision Making Skills

Initiative

Interpersonal Skills

Leadership/Managerial Potential

Persistence

Problem Solving

Reading/Math

Using Information

Teamwork

Writing

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* 6. In which general skill areas will your employees need more training or qualifications over the next three years? (Check all that apply)

Attendance/Timeliness/Work Ethic

Computer Skills

Creativity or Imagination

Customer Service

English Language Proficiency

Mathematics

Problem-Solving

Process Improvement

Reading/Writing/Communication

Reading Diagrams, Charts, Prints

Supervisory/Managerial Skills

Teamwork

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* 7. Do you find applicants for your positions lacking in technical skills appropriate for the work?

Yes

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* 8. If you replied yes to question 7, what skills are applicants lacking?

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* 9. How might the state or local education systems assist you in meeting your employment and training needs?

For more information about the standards development/revision process or if you have any further questions, please contact:

Erin Larsen
South Dakota Department of Education
Phone: 605-773-2533
Email: Erin.Larsen@state.sd.us