Royal Roads University's Career Confidence
Survey finds Millennials most concerned about value of their skill
set
VICTORIA, Nov. 17, 2016 /CNW/ - A new survey sponsored
by Royal Roads University reveals almost half of all employed
Canadians anticipate making a career change within the next five
years, but many feel their existing skill set leaves them
ill-prepared for it.
"Gone are the days of getting an education to secure you in one
life-long career," said Catherine
Riggins, Associate Vice President, with Victoria's Royal Roads University. "Canadians
clearly understand the reality that they will have many careers
throughout the course of their working lives – and the importance
of life-long learning in maximizing opportunities. The challenge
lies in ensuring they are equipped to make those changes."
RRU's Career Confidence Survey – a national poll of more than
1,000 employed Canadians (conducted by Ipsos) – found 45 per cent
expect to make a job or career change in the next five years. A
similar number (44 per cent) of Millennials expect it to happen
within the next 12 months.
But with that change on the horizon, almost one in three (29 per
cent) report they don't feel prepared for it, based on their
current skill set and transferable skills. Millennials – often
considered the most tech-savvy – are the most worried (one in four)
that their current skill set might prove no longer valuable to
their employer.
Recognition of the importance of life-long learning is
exceptionally high, with 87 per cent of respondents agreeing that
it's "crucial for career success." However, the majority (61 per
cent) do not anticipate furthering their education to upgrade
current skills or to learn new ones.
"This reveals a disconnect between endorsing life-long learning
as a concept, yet not being prepared to actually commit to it and
enroll in a new skills development course," Riggins said. "RRU
wants to shift this mindset, and prepare people for success by
teaching them how to become life-learners, wherever they're at in
their lives and whatever their age."
Riggins says Royal Roads University sees first-hand evidence of
the life-changing benefits of continuing education and cultivating
an evolving skillset.
"I'm living proof, having started a master's degree in
communication at age 61," said RRU alumnus Victor Hayes. "It enabled me to keep pace with
the changing landscape within my career field and remain valuable,"
Hayes said.
CONCERN ABOUT JOB LOSS DUE TO ECONOMY
The survey also
revealed sizeable concern – particularly among Millennials – about
losing their jobs due to a downturn in the economy. Forty-three
percent of Millennials (age 18-34) are worried about losing their
jobs if the economy falters, versus 35 per cent among employed
Canadians overall.
Regionally, the concern was highest in Alberta (48 per cent) and lowest in
British Columbia (25 per
cent).
"Once again we see people concerned about their security in a
soft economy, which in turn reinforces the value proposition
life-long learning offers," Riggins said. "RRU teaches students to
embrace change and use it to keep pushing oneself forward in their
career, but also their life. In today's quickly shifting career
landscape, the key is to learn how to be a life-learner…and then
not stop."
This drive to keep learning, inspiring, connecting, cultivating
and persevering is at the core of the new campaign from RRU called
"Don't Stop," designed to promote the notion that there is always
room for growth, whether through a formal education, in the
workplace or even an inspiring encounter.
ABOUT THE SURVEY
These are some of the findings of an
Ipsos poll conducted between October 25 and
October 26, 2016, on behalf of Royal Roads University. For
this survey, a sample of 1,004 employed Canadians from Ipsos'
online panel was interviewed online. The poll is accurate to within
+/ - 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
ABOUT ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY
Royal Roads University is
like no other in Canada. The
campus is unparalleled: situated amidst old-growth forest on a
227-hectare ocean-side parkland, it has a 100-year-old castle as
its centerpiece. In contrast, the university's 21st-Century
programs are dedicated to providing first-class graduate education
to professionals, and to offering intensive undergraduate degree
completion programs in professional fields. For more information on
the University – including degrees, admissions, the campus,
research projects, news and our alumni – please
visit: www.royalroads.ca
SOURCE Royal Roads University