Management skills are more desirable
WHO you know and what you know is no longer enough to get a job in the West Midlands, according to a new report by the Chartered Management Institute.
The study, published yesterday is based on the views of 2,229 respondents.
It reveals that job prospects in the region are increasingly being influenced by an individual's commitment to their long-term professional development.
However, it also uncovers major barriers preventing significant numbers from improving their skills.
The findings show 71 per cent of employers - and 76 per cent of individuals - in the region believe management qualifications will grow in importance over the next five years.
Individuals and employers also agree that proof of academic prowess is no longer a key driver for taking a qualification.
Among the key findings was a view shared by 60 per cent of employers that qualified managers led to productivity gains. Most highly valued across the West Midlands are MBAs (73 per cent) and Diplomas (74 per cent).
Seventy per cent of employers said that providing the opportunity to gain qualifications gave an organisation an enhanced professional reputation, while almost twothirds said it boosted their ability to attract staff.
The overwhelming majority of workers in the region (95 per cent) are motivated by the "portability" offered by a general management qualification, while 76 per cent said the need for "transferable skills" was is a key factor in the desire to get qualified.
Almost 90 per cent of managers in the West Midlands believe qualifications will improve their chances of future employment, while 77 per cent said it improved their promotion prospects.
However, the report shows that the desire to secure formal recognition is not matched by action, with only one in five workers holding a management qualification.
CMI chief executive Mary Chapman said: "The current low level of management skills is untenable, so it is encouraging to see a thirst for change." One of the major barriers to further qualification the study found, is study time.
Respondents said it diverted their energy from other interests including family (75 per cent) and their work (39 per cent).