Employability

1. Employability Revision and Support Notes

2. The Impact of Globalisation on Employment

3. What is Globalisation? • Globalisation describes a process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation, and trade (Wikipedia) • It is basically a term that describes how businesses and cultures are linked together because they are working together

4. Impact of the Global Economy - Positives • Introduction of new industries - sharing of expertise • Creates jobs in poorer countries • Increased sales • Promotion of fair trade practices • We get access to many different markets and cultures – greater variety of products and services • We don’t need to buy only ‘seasonal’ produce as we can get what we want all year round • Political benefits – building relationships with other countries

5. Impact of the Global Economy - Negatives • Loss of Jobs - skilled workforces are made redundant to move industries to countries where production costs are lower • Taking advantages of workers in poorer countries Carbon emissions from trade – investigating the best form of transport • There will be an impact from exchange rates and foreign economies • Multi-national companies don’t always employ fair trade practices • Language Barriers • You will have to be aware of protocol for international trade

6. Imports Importing goods is when one country buys something from another country – e.g. our local supermarkets buy things like fruit, vegetables and flowers from other countries Exports Exporting goods is when one country sell something to another country – e.g. farmers in places like Spain and South America sell us their fruit, vegetables and flowers etc Imports and Exports

7. Opportunities for Trade • There are many opportunities for Northern Ireland businesses to trade with businesses in other countries e.g. • Food • Clothing • Technology • Transport • Financial Services

8. Town-Twinning • The town-twinning project twins towns across the world to help develop opportunities in trade, investment and sharing cultural experiences • The European Union contributes 12 million euros each year to promote the scheme • Which town/city is your town/city’s twin? • Belfast is twinned with the following: • Belfast, Maine, USA • Bonn, Germany • Hefei, China • Nashville, Tennessee, USA

9. Investment in Training and Technology • The global market means that we have more access to training and new and emerging technologies • We share our expertise around the world which brings investment to our country • This means that Northern Ireland’s economy can improve while we are progressing in the global market • This also means that we have a skilled workforce through opportunities in training staff in new technologies

10. Competition in Trade • The global market also brings many opportunities for competition in trade • This can lead to and increase in trade and investment, which clearly brings in more revenue (money) • The downside to global competition is that it can also lead to some businesses closing with the loss of jobs through redundancy

11. Why Businesses Move Abroad • Cheaper workforce – workers in poorer countries are prepared to work longer hours for less pay • Cheaper utilities – gas, electricity and oil are cheaper in other countries • Cheaper rent / cost of premises • To improve life for people in poorer countries • Maybe there is expertise in a particular country that is needed to manufacture a product

12. Effects on Local Job Market • Local businesses have been relocated to other countries resulting in job losses e.g. many businesses in the textile industry have closed in recent years • The workforce will have difficulty finding employment elsewhere • The job market will be swamped with skilled workers but there will be no jobs for them • Workers may have to spend years retraining which will have a negative impact on the economy

13. Types of Industry • Primary Sector – this involves working on the land to extract or create raw materials e.g. farming, fishing, mining • Secondary Sector – this involves manufacturing products e.g. factory workers, joinery, bakery • Tertiary Sector – this involves providing a service e.g. teacher, doctor, hotel employee, hairdresser

14. Changing Employment Patterns • Over the past few years there have been many changes in employment in Northern Ireland • Most employed people work in the Tertiary sector • Changes in technology have also meant that most industries in Northern Ireland rely on computer technology

15. Changing Employment Patterns • The introduction of machinery and computers in many industries has resulted in a reduction in staff • Schools are having to address the need for workers in the tertiary sector – traditional skills are being lost because of the demands from employers • Employees in industries such as textiles and the bakery industry have had to retrain in order to find employment

16. Teamwork in the Workplace • Teamwork can lead to: • Sharing of ideas and creativity • Healthy competition among staff • Equal distribution of work • Increased in production • Raised self-esteem • Sense of responsibility • Lowered stress level • Good relationships with colleagues • Job satisfaction

17. Lifestyle Impacts Work Practices • Over the past number of years people’s lifestyles have changed work practices throughout the UK and Ireland Job-Sharing • this is when two people share the same job • An employee may choose to work 3 days a week, in which case the employer will have to employ another member of staff for the other 2 days each week • This means the employer will have to pay to advertise the post, interview people and pay for staff development for two members of staff instead of one

18. Lifestyle Impacts Work Practices Tele-working • This is when an employee works from home • They can stay in contact with customers and colleagues through telephone, computer and fax • This reduces the need for office space as the employee uses their own home

19. Types of Jobs Available • Northern Ireland was famous around the world for it’s main manufacturing industries – Agriculture, Shipbuilding and Linen • We have now moved away from these primary and secondary industries and have become a ‘service providing’ workforce • In class, discuss the employment trends in your own family • You will probably discover that most of your family members are employed in the tertiary / service sector

20. Migration • Migration is when people leave their own country • Usually people move to find employment or a better standard of living • Sometimes people migrate because of war or a threat to their safety in their own country • There has been an increase in migrant workers coming to the UK and Ireland over the past number of years

21. Immigration • Immigration is when people come to a new country • You will hear politicians discussing levels of immigration and how they can control the numbers of people coming to the UK and Ireland • You may be aware that countries like America and Australia have very strict immigration laws to control the amount of people moving to these countries

22. Emigration • Emigration is when a person leaves one country or region to settle in another country or region • For example you might emigrate from Ireland to Australia

23. Why leave your own country? • To find employment • To find better pay and conditions at work • To have a better standard of living • To avoid war • To avoid persecution • For medical treatment • To avoid racism

24. Why move to Northern Ireland? • NHS – free health service is very attractive to migrant workers • Education system – we have a high quality education system • Good employment opportunities for skilled e.g. in the medical profession • Employment for unskilled workers e.g. working in restaurants or car washes • Safety – many people are fleeing war situations and because of the high profile of the end of the ‘Troubles’ Northern Ireland is a very attractive option

25. Advantages Work usually pays more than they could make at home Most people are welcoming A better life A better education system A better health service and benefit system Disadvantages Racism Poorly paid work Prejudice Poor housing conditions Language barrier Exclusion from society Migrant Workers in Northern Ireland

26. Why leave Northern Ireland? • Better employment opportunities elsewhere • Many professionals have left Northern Ireland because they can command higher salaries elsewhere • Better promotion prospects in other countries • Better climate in other countries • Still a threat of terrorist activity

27. Advantages The people leaving may have a better life Better job opportunities Better chances of promotion Better climate Disadvantages The main disadvantage is Northern Ireland loses highly skilled professionals such as doctors and teachers This can lead to jobs not being filled This effect is called the ‘Brain Drain’ which is when people are educated here and then leave for better job prospects Advantages and Disadvantages of Emigration

28. Growth of New Technologies • Use of Information Communication Technology has dramatically changed the workplace • The introduction of new and improved machinery means faster production, more output and, unfortunately, the loss of jobs • Work practices are more efficient with the use of ICT • It also means and improvement in Health and Safety with heavy machinery • Industries like Architecture and Graphic Design have changed dramatically with the use of ICT based design packages such as CAD (Computer Aided Design)

29. Technologies in the Home • Technology in the home has changed dramatically over the last number of years • ICT in the home • High Definition Television (HDTV) • Mobile Phones • MP3 and MP4 players • Games Consoles • Digital Television

30. Benefits of Technology in the Home • Technology in the home has many benefits: • We can communicate with family and friends around the world more easily through the use of the internet • We can work from home • Home entertainment • Other household gadgets are constantly being updated to make our lives more convenient

31. What jobs may disappear due to technology? • Factory jobs – these are under threat because of new and emerging technology with machines replacing people • Supermarket cashiers – self-service checkouts are becoming popular • CD retailers / production companies – because of the introduction of downloaded music • Photograph processors – digital photography is more popular • Can you think of anymore?

32. Recruitment and Selection Practices for Employment

33. Life-Long Learning • Life-Long Learning is the idea that our education does not end when we leave school or university • We should continue to learn through our jobs during Staff Training or Development • It encourages employees to continue with their education through university courses such as Masters Degrees and Doctorates

34. Pros You are constantly evolving and learning new skills Improve your chances of promotion Be able to command a better salary You are able to provide a better service for your customer / client Improve your self-esteem Cons It can be expensive It can be time consuming You could be seen as being over-qualified for some jobs You may be spending more time on learning new skills rather than doing your work Pros and Cons of Life-Long Learning

35. Benefits of Staff Training Courses • On-the-job training • Expert in your field • High quality service • Professional • Can command a premium for your services • Team building • Highly skilled work force • Encourage new customers

36. Where can you go for training? • In-house training – when more experienced employees train staff in the workplace • Colleges – local technology colleges • Outside agencies may come to your workplace e.g. health professionals could teach First Aid • University – vocational courses are more widely available and are geared towards specific businesses

37. Benefits You can earn money while you learn new skills You can be an expert in your field You get to practice the new skills you have learned right away The employer gets the benefit of teaching you how they would like things done Drawbacks You may pick up bad habits With a higher level of education you could earn more money If you are only trained in one area you could risk having to retrain later if the trade / business is unstable ‘On the Job’ Training

38. Benefits Highly skilled people are there to instruct you The training can be more focused on your needs and level of expertise You can receive theoretical training Can be less stressful because you are out of your work place Drawbacks It could be ineffective or unconnected to your actual role in work It can be slightly fake / artificial It is more expensive The trainers may not be fully aware of the conditions under which you work You will not be working as you train ‘Off the Job’ Training

39. Effects of Credit Crunch on Northern Ireland • House prices have plummeted leaving home-owners with negative equity (when your mortgage is worth more than your home) • A lot of small businesses have had to close • Job losses • Public spending has been cut • People from Northern Ireland have been affected by the collapse of companies like FairPak and Travel Companies

40. Institutes of Further and Higher Education • Students can gain a variety of qualifications for example: • GCSE • AS /A2 Level • HND • Undergraduate Degrees • Master Degrees • Doctorates • Research options at your local Institutes of Further and Higher Education

41. Learn Direct • Learn Direct offers a range of business and ICT courses that you can complete online, at home or at work • They are geared towards improving your skills and are modular to suit your needs • You can work at your own pace with the support of Learn Direct • Research some of the courses offered by Learn Direct

42. Job Centres • Job Centres will help you organise training courses if you need to retrain in another field • The local job centre is linked to Institutes of Further and Higher Education and can point you in the right direction to complete some training • Visit www.jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/to research the options given by the job centre

43. Careers Service Northern Ireland • The Careers Service of Northern Ireland provides a range of support for people who are unemployed or those who just want to change career • They provide information on Training and Qualifications, the Labour Market, Job Information and Information for Parents • Visit their website at https://www.careersserviceni.com/Cultures/en-GB/Homepage.htm for further information

44. Educational Guidance Service for Adults (EGSA) • “EGSA - the Educational Guidance Service for Adults - is a local, independent, not-for-profit, frontline service that aims to connect adults with learning. • EGSA has a network of local offices based across Northern Ireland through which it provides services to adult learners, learning advisers, providers, employers and anyone interested in improving access to learning for adults.” • Visit their website at http://www.egsa.org.uk/

45. A good standard of literacy and numeracy ICT ability Commitment Loyalty Flexibility Reliability Trustworthy Honesty Disciplined Motivated Hard-Working Co-operative Sociable Organised Competencies and Personal Qualities

46. Importance of these Qualities • A professional staff leads to a professional business • The employer will want somebody who displays a range of qualities and can deal with customers / clients in a professional manner • The employer will want you to bring attract customers to the business / provide a high quality service

47. How to Apply for a Job? • Jobs are advertised in: • Newspapers • Online • Job Centre • In-store / in-house • You will either have to apply through: • Application Form • Letter of Application • Curriculum Vitae and accompanying letter

48. Coping with Work and Studying • Plan your time well so that you find a balance between your work and study • De-stress by making time for social activities like going out with friends or physical training • If you are balancing a part-time job with full-time education remember that you need to devote more time to your studying • During exam times you could find out about Study Leave from your job

49. Positives You are earning money You will gain some independence from your parent / guardian You will feel a sense of achievement You are learning what it is like to be in a work environment You will meet new people Negatives Finding the time for work Finding the time for study Finding the time for social activities Balancing work and study Working Part-Time and Studying

50. How will an employer test your qualities? • Interview • Application Form • Letter or Email correspondence • Telephone conversation • Mini Assessments such as Presentations and Tests