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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Bates-Dotterrer race leads state's campaign spending spree Elderly woman's kidnapper sentenced to 15 years Restaurant Inspections (No heading) Man killed by fallen tree Saturday Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Elderly woman's kidnapper sentenced to 15 years (No heading) Emergency Services 'Constant state of paranoia' Medford police arrest 7 in domestic violence sweep Politics and Elections Fire chief has sheriff's back Phoenix council races draw a crowd — and debate Winters worn down by criticism Eagle Point might get on the bus Richardson accuses Kitzhaber of 'corruption' in final debate Education Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant County helps fund RCC job training SOU student says free speech issue overblown SOU interim president leads in a different direction Medford school officials consider costs of full-day kindergarten Environment Reintroduction of McCloud River salmon inspires film, tribe Rite Aid bear cub may be released into the wild in spring Rite Aid cub well, could come back to southern Oregon Neighbors smell trouble in proposal to spread waste on Sams Valley farmland Bear cub captured in Ashland pharmacy State news Nation - World Obituaries Donna Lee Norvell Faith Ann Honer Sherry Nell Bean Pat V. 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Old-fashioned hat maker Real Estate News New I-5 interchange puts south Medford on fast lane to fast food Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford People In Business People in Business Transportation Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Ranchers offer livestock exchange 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Opinion Latest Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Dana Milbank: Larry Pressler's quirky Senate campaign Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Editorials Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax Don't bet on pot windfall for schools Our View: SOU's 'free speech zone' constitutionally questionable Our View: Kitzhaber is still the best choice Our view: Merkley-Wehby race leaves us unconvinced; Walden seems destined for permanent position Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 25 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 24 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 23 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 22 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Guest Opinion: A glimpse into the reality of our elections Don't overlook importance of Jackson County commissioners race Measure 92 misleads rather than enlightens Lifestyle Latest stories Rocks and Rhetoric Engagement Wedding: Potter-Hazel Wedding: Martin-Berg Wedding: Hale-Lombardi Food Community blog: Quick breads take well to gluten-free ingredients Community blog: Barrel Aged and Sour Beers Ledger David Cellars has a new winemaker and big plans Community blog: There's a method to mix, match alternative grains Ashland resident's cookbook showcases gluten-free creativity Home and Garden How to live and work in a tiny home Dear Monty: Rent-back clause prevents financial disaster​ Recycle plastic at The Expo Friday and Saturday How to know when trees and shrubs need to go Dear Monty: Is your real estate agent a secret agent? 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Elderly woman's kidnapper sentenced to 15 years ... Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure ... Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax ... Elderly woman's kidnapper sentenced to 15 years ... Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure ... Other Views: The jobs dilemma Employers can't find qualified workers; all need to help address that problem Oregon businesses have difficulty finding qualified workers for almost half their openings, according to an annual report released this week by the Oregon Employment Department. The report, based on surveys of more than 10,000 private employers during 2013, should send a warning to companies, educators and policymakers: By The Oregonian MailTribune.com By The Oregonian Posted Jun. 28, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jun 28, 2014 at 2:10 AM By The Oregonian Posted Jun. 28, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jun 28, 2014 at 2:10 AM » Social News Oregon businesses have difficulty finding qualified workers for almost half their openings, according to an annual report released this week by the Oregon Employment Department. The report, based on surveys of more than 10,000 private employers during 2013, should send a warning to companies, educators and policymakers: It doesn't matter how much the economy improves if the state can't produce workers who have the skills necessary to fill the jobs produced by economic growth. Some of the survey results are obvious: Lack of qualified candidates was the most commonly cited reason businesses had trouble filling positions. The number of qualified candidates decreases as pay rises. Jobs requiring related work experience are harder to fill than entry-level positions. Some jobs (about 17 percent) are difficult to fill because workers view the work conditions as undesirable. But the survey results also offer some less obvious lessons. Here are five: Government regulations aren't necessary to compel small businesses to improve pay and benefits. The market will force them to do it. The survey showed that businesses with fewer than 20 employees had the most trouble filling positions. Increased pay and benefits could change that equation, but business owners are in a better position than elected officials to determine whether they can offer those carrots to workers and remain profitable. Economic ills aren't limited to southern and eastern Oregon. Willamette Valley and North Coast employers reported the most difficulty filling open positions. That might, in part, reflect the quality of openings in places like Curry and Harney counties. But it was more sign that Oregon needs to attract jobs and train workers if it wants to boost the economy in counties outside the Portland area. Schools need to expand vocational and technical education. Some progress has been made in this area. The Career Technical Education Revitalization Grant Fund, established by the Legislature in 2011, has allowed more than 100 Oregon schools to improve career education. But as the economy improves, schools need to accelerate the implementation of courses aimed at those who are unlikely to attain a college degree. Employers need to earn back workers' trust. During the recession, workers became reluctant to leave good, stable jobs. That makes it hard for businesses to fill positions requiring experience. Jessica Nelson, an economist with the Employment Department, said in the months since the survey workers have begun to show more willingness to change jobs. Businesses need to take responsibility for some of the training. The annual survey showed that many of the hardest-to-fill jobs lacked a clear educational pathway. In some cases, the necessary training was so specific that it would be hard for high schools or community colleges to design an appropriate educational program. Businesses have to be willing to fill that gap. Of course, some of the responsibility falls back on workers, too. It's not reasonable to expect high pay, good benefits, weekday-only work hours and a low-pressure work environment. Some of the applicants who turn down jobs because of "unfavorable" work conditions need to reconsider. In fact, if nothing else, the annual survey should convince employers, workers and educators that they need to collaborate in order to mend the holes that the recession left in Oregon's economy. By The Oregonian MailTribune.com By The Oregonian Posted Jun. 28, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jun 28, 2014 at 2:10 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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