Essential job skills are essential for business success

Interesting story in Western Hotelier magazine. "New Skills for a Knowledge-based Economy" (November/December 2012, page 55), describes the importance of occupation-specific training and essential-skills training in today's hospitality workplace.

Margaret Eaton, president of ABC Life Literacy Canada, says that jobs formerly considered "menial" have turned into highly-skilled roles for which employees receive no training, diminishing Canadian tourism and hospitality employers' competitiveness not only nationally, but globally.

CTHRC President Wendy Swedlove calls these essentials skills gaps "a persistent reality in tourism and other sectors". She notes that federal, provincial and local partnerships make it possible for businesses to take advantage of emerit pre-employment programs that stand up to national benchmarks. "(T)hey create better entry-level jobs, see increased productivity and employee loyalty," Swedlove says. "(T)he positive effects on staff, operations and guests become significant."

Reading between the lines, it's basically saying that in a competitive world economy, there's no such thing as "unskilled" tourism labour and, without a skilled and properly trained workforce, employers are at a clear disadvantage (and risk going out of business if they don't get with the program).

Check out the story for yourself. Follow the link to the November/December 2012 edition of Western Hotelier, then scroll down the PDF to page 55.

Seeking Saskatchewan businesses for national compensation survey

With Saskatchewan employers feeling the national shortage of workers more acutely than other provinces, the CTHRC Tourism Sector Compensation Study can help businesses gain a competitive edge. Find out what motivates the best employees to choose your business over another and to stay with you over the long haul. See how you compare with other players in your industry.

All survey participants gain access to regional compensation reports for the main occupations in their industry, plus information on turnover rates, benefits, and incentive programs. Five lucky participants will win a customizable training package from emerit, a prize worth $850. So, why not get started right away?