READING 1 - PREPARING TO READ hy a Interpreting graphical information Academic texts often include tables, graphs or other diagrams to support and extend the content of the text. In a good academic text the graphical information is always discussed and interpreted in the body of the text — graphs and diagrams are not just put in a text and not discussed. Asa first step to understanding information presented in graphical form, read the title, headings and the labels on the axes on any graphs. This will provide some context for the information presented there. If the axes of a graph are not labelled, try to work out what the labels would be. PREDICTING CONTENT USING VISUALS 1 You are going to read an article about the demand for workers with appropriate skills. Work with a partner. Look at the graph and discuss the questions below. High-growth occupations y = computer/maths fields Percentage change in the fastest growing ‘mm life/physical/social sciences ‘occupations in the US, based on actual nurnbers | mam business/finance fields Up to and including 2016, projected to 2026 | == healthcare practitioners c= Oe and technicians percentage change 5 ¥ FS FESS ET SF FF Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics 1 What kinds of jobs does each category include? Name some. 2 What sorts of skills and education are required for the jobs in these fields? 3 Why do you think these occupational areas are predicted to be the fastest growing in the near future? 4 What implications might this prediction have for school curriculum development?2. Now look at Figures | and 2 in the article on pages 140-141 and answer the questions about each graph, PREVIEWING 1 What does the horizontal axis (the x-axis) measure? 2. What does the vertical axis (the y-axis) measure? 3 What information does the whole graph express? 3 Based on the information in the graphs in the article, answer the questions. 1 Look at Figure 1. Why do you think companies are struggling to recruit employees? 2. What problem does Figure 2 illustrate? 3. How does the information in Figure 2 explain the problems that the ‘employers in Figure 1 are experiencing? 4 Read the definitions. Use the correct forms of the words in bold to UNDERSTANDING complete the sentences below. KEY VOCABULARY assertive (ad) forceful; bold and confident = ee comprise (\) to have things or people as parts or members; to + consist of hi expertise (n) a high level of knowledge or skill labour (n) workers, especially people who do practical work with their hands mismatch (n) things that do not work well together persistent (adj) (of a problem) lasting for a long time, difficult to resolve pose (y) to cause prospective (adj) wanted or expected to do a particular thing in the future 1 Professors at this technical institute are known for their —_______in robotics and high-tech electronics. 2 This situation ____a real problem for our company because we can't find skilled applicants to fill our positions. 3 There is an unfortunate______ between the organization's goals and its actions. 4 Experts are studying the youngest sector in the labour force, which workers between the ages of 18 and 24. 5 You have to be more _____if you want people to listen to your ideas. 6 Our _____costs were way too high, so we moved our operation to Vietnam, where workers’ salaries are lower. 7 The staff in the admissions office regularly meet with students to answer their questions and give campus tours. 8 For the last five years, there has been a___shortage of job applicants with skills in a wide range of technical areas.1 All over the world, business leaders and government officials complain about the ‘skills gap’. Businesses have plenty of job openings, ‘but they cannot find enough qualified applicants to fill the positions because ‘workers’ skills do not match those needed by employers, Figure 1 shows the results of an annual survey of about 42,000 companies worldwide. 2 For the most part, the employees that employers in western countries are seeking fall into two categories. The first category. includes professionals in STEM fields (Science/ ‘Technology/Engineering/Mathematics) that require advanced training and expertise, especially in Information Technology (IT).The second category is much larger, comprising ‘workers in the ‘skilled trades’. Workers in the skilled trades have expertise in, for example, ‘manufacturing, computers, electronics and construction. There are simply not enough ‘workers with training in these areas to meet the growing demand. These jobs require more than a secondary education (for example, a training course to develop the required skill), but often they do not require a university education. In the United States, almost half of the labour force works in these kinds of jobs. ‘Figure |. Percentage of companies with difficulty filing postions It 4 E 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 200 20N 20” 203 204 205 20% 3. Why have we been unable to bridge this gap and prepare workers for the jobs of the future, ‘or even the jobs of today? The answer lies in both the job market and the education system in many western counties. The job market is changing more quickly than ever before. Many of the jobs that companies need to fill today did not exist when current job applicants were in school, making it difficult for curriculums. to keep up with the demands of the market. Nevertheless, numerous business leaders argue that schools are not doing enough to provide the technical training that many jobs demand. For example, only a quarter of all schools in the United States teach computer science, Most schools and universities continue to offer the same type of education that they have provided in the past. As a result, lots of students graduate ‘with degrees that do not prepare them for the jobs that are available. Given this mismatch ‘between the education system and the job ‘market, several labour experts say we cannot and pethaps should not depend on traditional schooling to close the skills gap and should instead find alternative solutions. 4 Both industry and academic experts argue that businesses themselves need to take a more assertive role in the preparation of the labour force they require, Businesses have the best information about what skills their ‘employees will need, so it makes sense for them to participate in training prospective ‘employees. First, they need to communicate Detter with schools and universities about the skills they require. Second, they should establish relationships with future employees earlier, pethaps through partnership schemes that begin training future employees while they are still students, Finally, businesses may need to develop and provide their own in-house training,‘Technical skills, particularly computer science 6 The skills gap is both skills, are in high demand, but developing and expensive these skills is not necessarily best accomplished One business expert by means of a traditional university education estimates that a company ‘There are a wide range of schools, courses loses $14,000 when a and training schemes that have opened in position remains open for response to the demand for computer science three months. The skills gap professionals, some in brick-and-mortar is the result of many factors, classrooms and others online ~ technical and there is no single colleges for the digital age. The top computer solution to the problems science schools are expensive, but some boasta it Ics likely that a 99% placement rate for their graduates, many combination of approaches ‘of whom find positions that pay $100,000 a will be needed before the year or more. Figure 2 displays the predicted supply of qualified workers job growth in computing jobs. will be able to meet demand for them. FS, An TERRA - von — Me peor 400000 oonon0 aq.000 aan aq 000 eo Paes 202 208 20M 205 206 207 298 209 2020 Source: Code.org Read the article, Then match the main ideas (a-f) with each paragraph (1-6). Schools that provide training in IT can help fill the skills gap b Employees in the skilled trades and with STEM training are in the greatest demand. c There is no singl solution to the skills gap. d Current job applicants do not have the skills that employers are looking for. e Businesses need to participate more in preparing future employees. F Universities do not always offer an education with a clear career path Which of the statements in Exercise 5 expresses the main idea of the whole article?7 Read the article again, Write T (true), F (false) or DNS (does not say) next READING FOR DETAIL ——_—_——_ to the statements below. Then correct the false statements. 1 Globalization has led to labour shortages in some developing countries. ——— 2 The most critical labour shortages are in IT fields. —— 3 The positions that companies are trying to fill all require a university education. —— 4 About 50% of workers in the United States are in the skilled trades. —— 5 School curriculums have adapted to meet the new demand for ‘technical skills. 6 Businesses have the most accurate knowledge of the kinds of employees that are in demand. 7 More than 1,000 IT schools and training schemes have opened to meet demand. 8 An unfilled position that remains open for more than three months can cost a company more than $10,000. READING BETWEEN THE LINES IDENTIFYING 8 Work with a partner. Answer the questions. PURPOSE 1 What is the purpose of this article? eRe aN a to persuade universities to change their courses b to offer general information ¢ to warn employers 2. Where might you find an article like this? a inaprint or online magazine b ina textbook ¢ in an academic journal DISCUSSION 9 Work with a partner. Discuss the questions. 1 What do you think the $500 billion opportunity is in Figure 2? 2 Who do you think should take action to improve this situation?NZD INE} PREPARING TO READ 1 Work with a partner. You are going to read an article about the value of a university education. Look at the graphs on page 145. Then discuss the questions. 1 Based on Figure 1, what generalization can you make about university education? 2 Look at Figure 2. What does median income mean? Are university- educated workers more likely to earn above or below the median income? 3 What do you think the topic of this article will be? What argument do you think it will make? Read the sentences, Write the correct form of the words in bold next to their definitions below. PREDICTING CONTENT USING VISUALS. UNDERSTANDING. KEY VOCABULARY 1 There is a chronic shortage of skilled workers in the technology sector. It’s been impossible to hire enough workers. 2 Steve Jobs was a founder of Apple, Inc. 3 Business leaders dispute the government's claim that the number of jobs has grown. 4 The new training programme provides a good illustration of how the government and private sector can work together. 5 There is some ambiguity in the law, so it is difficult to know whether the company actually did anything wrong. 6 The Chief Technology Officer’s responsibilities extend beyond IT; he plays multiple roles in the company. 7 The company’s Chief Executive Officer asserts that profits will exceed expectations in the coming year. a ______(v) to disagree with an idea, a fact, etc. b _______(n) the state of being unclear or having more than one possible meaning ______{n) someone who establishes an organization fad) very many ______ fad) lasting for a long time, especially something bad ______()to say that something is certainly true Q ______{n)an example that explains something ow naan PLUS