1st Dec 2021

In the latest CIHT Guest Blog proudly developed with Carrington West, the Future Skills Partner of the CIHT Young Professionals Conference, we get their perspective on the results of the three surveys developed in collaboration with CIHT exploring how the pandemic has changed the way organisations in the highways and infrastructure sector operate.

Get ahead with CIHT Membership

Join other savvy professionals just like you at CIHT.  We are  committed to fulfilling your professional development needs throughout your career

Find out more

Future skills and the post pandemic workforce surveys

Between September and November 2021 CIHT worked with the recruitment company Carrington West to explore how the pandemic has changed the way organisations in the highways and infrastructure sector operate.

Through a series of three surveys sent to CIHT members and Carrington West contacts, between September and November 2021, we investigated:

  • The future of the post pandemic workforce – what will be the new normal
  • Inclusivity, skills and training in the post Covid workplace
  • “Future Skills” - what does the future look like for young engineers?

>>> Discover the results

  

Carrington West Perspective

  

Carrington West and the CIHT conducted a series of surveys to look at changes in the working environment over the past 2 years. We probed into a range of areas including how equity, diversity & inclusion (ED&I) has been affected by the pandemic, how and where we work, which new technologies we need to facilitate “new” working practices and training and development, especially for those at the beginning of their career. 

The results confirmed what many of us suspected, that hybrid working is here to stay. In fact, almost 90% say they now work from home some or all the time and 68% said they would only consider a job in the future if work from home. This will in turn and over time impact how we work, changing the skills we need (66% say that technology and IT skills are more important than ever), team and company culture and how we share and develop the knowledge of young professionals.

Without a doubt, young professionals are amongst those that have been most affected by the pandemic. According to our survey, many feel their career progression has been slowed or negatively impacted by the pandemic. For sure, there is more research needed by employees to fully understand and respond to the impact, especially at a time where we are already being plagued by media coverage of talent shortages in practically every sector. Whilst we recognise we are seeing increasing competition for appropriately experienced and skilled professionals at all levels in the highway and transport sector, more often than not demand can be met when employers show willing to invest in training.

Carrington West Director, Simon Gardiner, and Team Leader, Adam Butler, will be discussing some of the findings from the research at the upcoming CIHT Young Professionals Conference (8-9 December). Specifically, they will be looking at the skills that graduates and young professionals have when they enter the industry and compare them with the technical skills that employers are looking for. Is there a difference in opinions between employers and employers and how can we meet in the middle to get the job done? We will delve into how and what employers offer in terms of training programmes and look at the all important soft skills that will help young professionals get a foot on the ladder and help them remain relevant today and into the future.

   

Continue the conversation

Secure your place at the CIHT Young Professionals Conference where Carrington West Director, Simon Gardiner, and Team Leader, Adam Butler, will be discussing some of the findings from the research

>>> Secure your place today

   

Comments on this site are moderated. Please allow up to 24 hours for your comment to be published on this site. Thank you for adding your comment.
{{comments.length}}CommentComments
{{item.AuthorName}}

{{item.AuthorName}} {{item.AuthorName}} says on {{item.DateFormattedString}}:

Share
Bookmark

Get ahead with CIHT Membership

Join other savvy professionals just like you at CIHT.  We are  committed to fulfilling your professional development needs throughout your career

Find out more