Reno, Nev. – Members of Nevada’s workforce are being praised for their willingness to learn and their ability to adapt to changing environments but need to improve their communication skills and self-motivation, according to a survey of the state’s top business leaders.
First Independent Bank, along with Bank of Nevada, funded the 2017 Nevada Leaders in Business Survey which gathered insights from nearly 200 business people around the state. Respondents were asked to provide their opinions on a number of issues important to the health of the business community, including what they believed to be the strengths and skills lacking in Nevada’s labor pool.
Workforce survey results include:
Strengths
Business leaders ranked Nevada’s workforce highest in the following areas: Willingness to Learn (45%), Adaptability/Flexibility (41%) and Teamwork (40%.)
More than a quarter of those surveyed (28%) cited other workforce strengths, including employees’ Personal Values at work, including honesty and integrity. Twenty-five (25) cited strengths in Multicultural Sensitivity and Awareness, followed byInterpersonal Skills (22%.)
Lacking
Business leaders were also asked to note those areas where workforce skills could improve. The qualities most often recognized as lacking in Nevada’s labor pool were Communication Skills (36%), followed by a tie — (34%) cite a lack of Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Skills, and an equal number (34%) believe the workforce lacks Self Motivation and the Ability to Work With Little or No Supervision.
Nearly one-third of those surveyed (31%) believe the workforce has inadequate Math and Science skills, followed by an absence of Leadership/Management Skills (21%) and Analytical/Research Skills (20%.)
“The Nevada Leaders in Business Survey illustrates an opportunity for employers and educators to work together to try and bridge the skills gap,” said Bob Francl, Executive Vice President, Regional President, First Independent Bank. “Our future workforce must have the skills required by the business community to ensure our state continues to attract new businesses.”
Northern Nevada’s largest business organization, the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, says many of the important findings in the Nevada Leaders in Business Survey closely echo the concerns of many chamber members.
“In addition to the lack of ready-to-work employees available in our community, employers are seeking individuals with skills crucial to success in and out of the workplace: the ability to communicate effectively, demonstration of a consistent work ethic, and contemporary capabilities in math and science,” said Ann Silver, CEO, Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce.
The 2017 Nevada Leaders in Business Survey was conducted statewide by WestGroup Research earlier this year.
To see complete survey results, please to go: https://info.firstindependentnv.com/nv-leaders-in-business-2017
First Independent Bank is a division of Western Alliance Bank.
About First Independent Bank
First Independent Bank is a division of Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, the go-to bank for business in its growing markets. Founded in 1999, First Independent Bank offers a full spectrum of deposit, lending, treasury management, international banking and online banking products and services, plus superior service to meet the needs of local businesses. With six offices in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Fallon, along with Western Alliance Bank’s robust national platform of specialized financial services, the banking division is a valued partner for Northern Nevada’s business, real estate, professional, municipal and nonprofit communities. Western Alliance Bank is the primary subsidiary of Phoenix-based Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL). One of the country’s top-performing banking companies, Western Alliance ranks #4 on the Forbes 2017 “Best Banks in America” list. For more information, visit firstindependentnv.com.