In many business circles, executives complain that they can’t find workers to fill jobs. Meanwhile, in the labor pool, many job hunters gripe that they can’t find companies to hire them.

What’s going on?

As the workforce shifts gears from a manufacturing-based economy to one driven by individual creativity and innovation, many workers don’t have the right set of skills. In the old days, dexterity, concentration and physical strength were prized attributes. Today, employers increasingly are seeking people who are able to analyze problems, create solutions, and work well in teams.

They want people with professional skills: They come to work on time; show up every day; and adapt to the workplace. They dress appropriately and use respectful language, but not slang, to speak with colleagues.

Savvy job hunters understand what the hot new companies are looking for, and how they can make their resumes stand out among the hundreds of applicants.

Some insights into the decision-making process by human resource departments are provided in a comprehensive report by the Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for Human Resource Management. In 2006, the groups did a comprehensive survey of 431 human resource officials to assess the readiness of new entrants to the workforce and identify core skills they seek in job applicants.

The result was a mixed report card for young workers, many of whom were college-educated.

“The future workforce is here, and it is ill-prepared,” concluded the report.

Employers expect young people to arrive with a core set of basic knowledge and the ability to apply their skills in the workplace - and the reality is not matching the expectation.

“It is clear from the report that greater communication and collaboration between the business sector and educators is critical to ensure that young people are prepared to enter the workplace of the 21st century,” said Richard Cavanagh, President and CEO of the Conference Board.

“Less than intense preparation in critical skills can lead to unsuccessful futures for America’s youth, as well as a less competitive U.S. workforce. This ultimately makes the U.S. economy more vulnerable in the global marketplace.”

Not even the basics

Business leaders told the Conference Board that while the three “R’s” are still fundamental to every employee’s ability to do the job, applied skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, and communication are essential for success at work.

“In fact, at all educational levels, these applied skills trump basic knowledge skills such as reading and mathematics in importance in the view of employers. In order to succeed in the workplace of the 21st Century, high school and college graduates need to master basic academic skills as well as a complement of applied skills,” the Conference Board report noted.

     Nearly three-quarters of survey participants (70 percent) cited deficiencies among incoming high school graduates in “applied” skills, such as professionalism and work ethic, defined as “demonstrating personal accountability, effective work habits, e.g. punctuality, working productively with others, time and workload management.”

In addition, recent high school graduates lacked the basic skills in reading comprehension, writing and math, which many respondents say were needed for successful job performance.

Employers’ need for high-level skills and soft skills are increasing demand for college-educated workers. When asked how their hiring practices will change:

28 percent of employers said that their companies likely would reduce hiring of new entrants with only a high school diploma over the next five years.

49.5 percent said the percentages of two-year college graduates they hire would increase.

 Almost 60 percent said their hires of four-year college graduates would increase.

42 percent said their hires of post-graduates would increase over the next five years.

“This study should serve as an alert to educators, policy makers and those concerned with U.S. economic competitiveness that we may be facing a skills shortage,” said Susan R. Meisinger, President and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management.

“In a knowledge based economy a talented workforce with communication and critical thinking skills is necessary for organizations and the U.S. to be successful.”

Writing singled out

Many of the companies cited writing skills as a major concern.  Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of incoming high school graduates were viewed as deficient in basic English writing skills, including grammar and spelling. Poor writing skills also continued to be a problem among both two-year and four-year college graduates. Nearly half of all survey participants (47 percent) report that two-year college graduates are deficient in this skill.

“The basics plus an array of applied and social skills - from critical thinking to collaboration to communications - defines workforce readiness in the 21st century,” said Ken Kay, President of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

For example, over half (58 percent) of responding employers say critical thinking and problem solving skills were “very important” for incoming high school graduates’ successful job performance, yet nearly three-quarters of respondents (70 percent) rated recently hired high school graduates as deficient in critical thinking.

“Clearly, business has a stake in the problem and can play a role in helping to solve the problem,” said Donna Klein, President and CEO, Corporate Voices for Working Families.

“Many business leaders across the country are already actively engaged in efforts to address the skills gap through a variety of initiatives including efforts to improve academic outcomes through partnerships with schools, partnering with schools or community based organizations that run mentoring programs, providing internships, job shadowing programs and summer job opportunities,” Klein said.

“Through these and other initiatives, business can help ensure that the workforce of the future has the full range of skills needed to be successful as they enter the workplace of the 21st century.”

What do you want?

In today’s economy, great ideas are driving business development. Growth industries anticipate what customers want and develop products to make life easier.

Nearly three-fourths of the survey participants ranked “creativity/innovation” as important. In addition, executives said knowledge of foreign languages, cultures, and global markets will become increasingly important for future graduates entering the U.S. workforce.

Sixty-three percent of survey participants said foreign languages were increasingly important. Half of the respondents noted that non-English languages were a tool for understanding other nations, markets, and cultures, while 53 percent said an understanding of global markets and the economic and cultural impacts of globalization were important.

Determine your career objective before you put your resume together.

In addition to your employment history, include workplace achievements and personal accomplishments that clearly demonstrate creativity, critical thinking, team work and cultural competency.

Have a friend proof your resume to ensure grammar and spelling are correct.

Each time you apply for a job, change your resume slightly to highlight the qualifications that employer views as most important.

Include volunteer activities that demonstrate creativity, critical thinking, and team work.

Offer examples that address professionalism and soft skills: I met project deadlines; received perfect attendance awards in high schools, or at work; my interpersonal skills have been cited by as a strength; I work well with peers who have different cultural backgrounds.

Remember the resume is a tool to get an interview, not a job. Write it in a way that makes recruiters want to meet you.