Accenture, the Swiss-American Chamber of
Commerce, the Global Apprenticeship Network and ETH Zürich/KOF
Swiss Economic Institute publish “Jobs Now” report to help U.S.
organizations bridge the skills gap
Accenture (NYSE: ACN), the Swiss-American Chamber of
Commerce, the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN) and ETH
Zürich/KOF Swiss Economic Institute today released a new report
that examines best practices for creating and sustaining
apprenticeship programs, which are gaining momentum as a strategy
for narrowing the skills gap.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171012005143/en/
The new report, “Jobs Now,” aims to help
U.S. organizations tap new sources of talent for in-demand skills
that will help drive growth and innovation (Graphic: Business
Wire)
The report, “Jobs Now,” aims to help U.S. organizations tap new
sources of talent for in-demand skills that will drive growth and
innovation – which is particularly important given that 95 percent
of U.S. corporate leaders say finding the talent they need is
problematic.1
“Jobs Now” presents key elements of Switzerland’s successful
apprenticeship model, along with case studies of successful
programs and profiles of CEOs who started their careers as
apprentices. Nearly 70 percent of Swiss citizens participate in an
apprentice program, which has helped the country achieve the top
global ranking in innovation (INSEAD Global Innovation Index, 2016)
and competitiveness (WEF, 2016).
“The U.S. faces a skills shortage that threatens our
competitiveness,” said Julie Sweet, Accenture’s CEO for North
America. “People are our country’s greatest strength, and
apprenticeship programs, particularly at the local level, can play
a critical role in developing new sources of talent while creating
additional opportunities for our citizens to participate in some of
the most dynamic parts of our economy.”
In the United States, Accenture recently initiated
technology-based apprenticeship programs in San Antonio and
Chicago, which are providing new job opportunities while bringing
needed skills to Accenture’s business in these markets. These
programs – along with others from leading companies including The
Adecco Group, Nestlé and Zurich – are featured in “Jobs Now.”
“With this report, we are accelerating a movement that has
already shown great promise,” said Martin Naville, CEO of the
Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce. “The vocational education and
training system in Switzerland is considered the global gold
standard due to its positive impact on the nation's economic
success, rich employer engagement, and low youth unemployment. We
are thrilled to share our learnings with the United States.”
Among the best practices identified in the report:
- Involve key
partners and stakeholders early. Apprenticeship systems in
Switzerland are one of the oldest public-private partnerships in
the world. For the U.S., key partners include community colleges;
industry groups; local, state and federal governments; and social
partners.
- Create buy-in
within the organization. Not all decision-makers within
companies are sold on the positive ROI argument. Pointing to the
benefits can play a key role in changing mindsets.
- Allow flexibility
in designing the program. Each employer should design a
program tailored to the specific needs of its business and the
communities it serves.
“The vocational education and training system in Switzerland
prepares a broad cross-section of young professionals – including
high achievers – for their careers in almost all occupational
fields,” said Dr. Ursula Renold, head of Division Comparative
Education Systems at KOF/ETH Zurich. “A major strength is the
intensive cooperation between employers and educators. Some U.S.
states, such as Colorado, have shown a pioneering initiative in
adapting elements of the Swiss approach. We are eager to continue
to share our best practices through this important report.”
Shea Gopaul, founder and executive director of the Global
Apprenticeship Network, said, “There are many lessons to be learned
from the Swiss model, and we are optimistic that it can be adapted
to the United States. The three keys are ensuring that
apprenticeship is employer-driven, that it is accessible by all,
and that the model promotes lifelong learning.”
About AccentureAccenture (NYSE: ACN) is a leading global
professional services company, providing a broad range of services
and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and
operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills
across more than 40 industries and all business functions –
underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture
works at the intersection of business and technology to help
clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for
their stakeholders. With approximately 425,000 people serving
clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to
improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us
at www.accenture.com.
About Swiss-American Chamber of CommerceThe
Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce promotes and facilitates better
business relations between the US and Switzerland; provides
essential information about doing business in these markets; brings
business leaders together to facilitate contacts and provide
platforms for networking in both countries; represents the mutual
interests of members; promotes both countries as advantageous
places to do business; and fosters good corporate citizenship to
benefit the communities in which members do business.
As the largest association of multinational companies in
Switzerland (Swiss and foreign, large and small), the Swiss AmCham
addresses all issues of concern to this sector for the long-term
success of the Swiss economy.
The Swiss AmCham, the second largest AmCham in Europe, is a
private organization with 2,000 members representing 1,600
internationally active companies. Twenty-five percent of the
members are located in the US (with organizations in Boston, New
York, Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles) and
75 percent are distributed throughout Switzerland. The Swiss AmCham
covers all areas of the private sector and does not accept any
subsidies from any government entity. A very prominent group of
Directors —CEOs of the largest Swiss companies and European
headquarters of the largest US companies—oversees the direction of
the Swiss AmCham.
About Global Apprenticeship NetworkThe GAN is a
business-driven alliance created in 2013 with the overarching goal
of encouraging and linking business initiatives on skills and
employment opportunities for youth - notably through
apprenticeships and work-readiness programs. Following our mission
‘skills for business, jobs for youth’, we work with companies,
governments, international organizations and employers’ federations
to promote the apprenticeship model and work-readiness programs as
a tool to increase employability and combat skills mismatch.
While the GAN provides a global strategic platform, we have also
launched GAN National Networks (GNN) in 9 countries (France, Spain,
Turkey, Indonesia, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Malawi and
Tanzania), with over 180 company members and have committed to over
9 million opportunities for youth.
About ETH Zürich/KOF Swiss Economic InstituteETH Zurich
regards itself as an institution with regional and national roots
that is fully integrated in the international academic community.
The ETH has more than 19,000 students from 120 countries. It
measures itself in all respects against the world’s leading
universities—from its education and research to its management. KOF
Swiss Economic Institute, which is part of ETH Zurich, is the
leading institute for research in applied economics in Switzerland.
KOF has been providing independent and high-quality contributions
both to international research and to economic policy for more than
75 years. The institute focuses on research relating to innovation,
internationalization, national regulatory frameworks and education
systems. Its forward-looking research is sustained by national and
international cooperation with scholars, institutions and economic
operators.
1 2016 Business Roundtable Education and Workforce Survey
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171012005143/en/
AccentureRachel Frey,
+1-917-452-4421rachel.frey@accenture.comorSwiss-American Chamber of
CommerceMartin Naville, +41 79 240
0500CEOmartin.naville@amcham.chorGlobal Apprenticeship
NetworkCristina Gueco Martin, +41 22 929 00
11gueco@gan-global.orgorKOF Corporate CommunicationsAnne Stücker,
+41 44 632 40 61stuecker@kof.ethz.ch
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