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PG Chamber of Commerce Employment Readiness Survey

The PG Chamber is conducting a survey of businesses and employees to identify employment readiness issues being experienced by companies and their employees in Northern BC. Existing research has identified five competencies that define the skills needed for employment (workforce readiness). These competencies are the ability to efficiently use (a) resources, (b) interpersonal skills, (c) information, (d) systems, and (e) technology. The purpose of this survey is to identify current areas of concern for employers and employees in these five competencies and, working with high schools  and post-secondary institutions in PG (UNBC and CNC) develop strategies for addressing these concerns. 

To accomplish this task, we are asking you to take 5 to 10 minutes to answer the following questions.   
1.To the best of your knowledge, how many employee(s) have you hired in the past two (2) years? 
2.    To the best of your knowledge, how many of these employees were:
     High school student 
     High school graduate 
     Trade school student 
    Trade school graduate 
     College student 
     College graduate student 
     University student 
    University graduate 
3.To the best of your knowledge, how many of these employees were:

New to the workforce
Previously employed
For each of the five following competencies, on a scale of one to five, with one indicating low competence and five indicating high competence, please rate the average competence at the time of employment for the people you have hired in the past two years and how important each of these competencies are for the persons’ jobs.
Ability to efficiently use Resources: Identifies, organizes, plans, and allocates resources
4.Time - Selects goal-relevant activities, ranks them, allocates time, and prepares and follows schedules
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
5.Money -Uses or prepares budgets, makes forecasts, keeps records, and makes adjustments to meet objectives
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
6.Material and Facilities - Acquires, stores, allocates, and uses materials or space efficiently
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
7.Human Resources - Assesses skills and distributes work accordingly, evaluates performance and provides feedback
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
8.Comments: Specific strengths and weaknesses you have observed in new hires in these abilities
Ability to efficiently use Interpersonal Skills: Works with others
9. Participates as Member of a Team - Contributes to group effort
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
10.Teaches Others New Skills
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
11.Serves Clients & Customers - Works to satisfy customers' expectations
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
12.Exercises Leadership - Communicates ideas to justify position, persuades and convinces others, responsibly challenges existing procedures and policies
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
13.Negotiates - Works toward agreements involving exchange of resources, resolves divergent interests
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
14.Works with Diversity - Works well with people from diverse backgrounds
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
15.Comments: Specific strengths and weaknesses you have observed in new hires in these abilities
Ability to efficiently use Information: Acquires and uses information
16.Acquires and Evaluates Information
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
17.Organizes and Maintains Information
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
18.Interprets and Communicates Information
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
19.Uses Computers to Process Information
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
20.Comments: Specific strengths and weaknesses you have observed in new hires in these abilities
Ability to efficiently use Systems: Understands complex inter-relationships
21.Understands Systems - Knows how social, organizational, and technological systems work and operates effectively in them
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
22.Monitors and Corrects Performance - Distinguishes trends, predicts impacts on system operations, diagnoses deviations in systems' performance and corrects malfunctions
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
23.Improves or Designs Systems - Suggests modifications to existing systems and develops new or alternative systems to improve performance
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
24.Comments: Specific strengths and weaknesses you have observed in new hires in these abilities
Ability to efficiently use Technology: Works with a variety of technologies
25.Selects Technology - Chooses procedures, tools or equipment, including computers and related technologies
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
26.Applies Technology to Task - Understands overall intent and proper procedures for setup and operation of equipment
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
27. Maintains and Troubleshoots Equipment - Prevents, identifies, or solves problems with equipment, including computers and other technologies
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
28.Comments: Specific strengths and weaknesses you have observed in new hires in these abilities
These five competencies are based on a three-part foundation: (a) basic skills, (b) thinking skills, and (c) personal qualities

For each of the following skills and personal qualities, please rate the average skill/quality level at the time of employment for the people you have hired in the past two years and how important each of these skills/qualities is for the persons’ jobs
 Basic Skills: Reads, writes, performs arithmetic and mathematical operations, listens and speaks
29.Reading - Locates, understands, and interprets written information in prose and in documents such as manuals, graphs, and schedules
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
30.Writing - Communicates thoughts, ideas, information, and messages in writing; and creates documents sue}, as letters, directions, manuals, reports, graphs, and flow charts
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
31.Arithmetic & Mathematics - Performs basic computations and approaches practical problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical techniques
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
32.Listening - Receives, attends to, interprets, and responds to verbal messages and other cues
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
33.Speaking - Organizes ideas and communicates orally
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
34. Comments: Specific strengths and weaknesses you have observed in new hires in these abilities
 Thinking Skills: Thinks creatively, makes decisions, solves problems, visualizes, knows how to learn, and reasons
35.Creative Thinking -- Generates new ideas
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
36.Decision Making -- Specifies goals and constraints, generates alternatives, considers risks, and evaluates and chooses best alternative
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
37.Problem Solving - Recognizes problems and devises and implements plan of action
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
38. Seeing Things in the Mind's Eye - Organizes and processes symbols, pictures, graphs, objects, and other information
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
39.Knowing How to Learn - Uses efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
40.Reasoning - Discovers a rule or principle underlying the relationship between two or more objects and applies it when solving a problem
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
41.Comments: Specific strengths and weaknesses you have observed in new hires in these abilities
Personal Qualities: Displays responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, and integrity and honesty
42.Responsibility - Exerts a high level of effort and perseveres towards goal attainment
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
43.Self-Esteem - Believes in own self-worth and maintains a positive view of self
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
44.Sociability - Demonstrates understanding, friendliness, adaptability, empathy, and politeness in group settings
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
45.Self-Management - Assesses self accurately, sets personal goals, monitors progress, and exhibits self-control
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
46.Integrity & Honesty - Chooses ethical courses of action
1 (Low/ no competence) 
2 (Limited competence) 
3 (Some competence) 
4 (Good competence) 
5 (High competence) 
47.Comments: Specific strengths and weaknesses you have observed in new hires in these qualities
Thank you for your participation.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact  Admin@pgchamber.bc.ca  at the PG Chamber of Commerce.