Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/556112
May 2015 | Boating Industry | 15 www.BoatingIndustry.com MONTHLY RESEARCH were somewhat important. Only 10 percent rated previous experience outside the industry as very important. Investing in training In this and previous surveys, many companies cited the importance of employee training in retaining a quality team. Many companies are planning on increas- ing their education budget this year – 27 percent said they plan to spend more on em- ployee training this year. Sixty-eight percent are spending the same, but only 5 percent plan to spend less. There's a large spread in how much com- panies are spending on employee training, but most – 63 percent – are spending at least $500 per year per employee. Twenty-eight percent are spending more than $1,000 a year. Only 9 percent are spending less than $100 a year. Much more difficult 18% A little more difficult 27% About the same 50% A little less difficult 3% A lot less difficult 1% Less than $100 $100 to $300 11% $300 to $500 17% $500 to $750 20% $750 to $1,000 15% More than $1,000 28% 9% FINDING AND KEEPING GOOD EMPLOYEES We asked readers about their biggest chal- lenge in finding or keeping good employees. Here is some of what they had to say: "As a seasonal business, past employees took another job to feel secure." "Maintaining competitive wages, finding people with strong work ethic." "Willingness to work weekends and holidays." "Getting the word out to people looking for jobs. There are too many options now." "Young generation's attitudes toward work expectations." "Entry level employees wanting to be paid and become the GM within six months of employment. The pool out there wants to start at the top." "With the growth in the job market, employees are being lured away by more lucrative offers." "Wages need to go up but we are squeezed by not being able to raise prices to match." "It's hard to keep staff when the season is so short." "Not enough applicants and hardly any qualified applicants." "The challenge is not retention but getting qualified candidates." "Workload on current staff is too great, but we can't afford to staff up to relieve this pressure." "Because of our location, affordable housing is difficult for employees." "Finding people with intelligence who truly want to work, not just looking for a job." Source: Boating Industry survey, March 2015 WHAT METHODS ARE YOU USING TO FIND NEW EMPLOYEES? Employee referrals 66% Online job sites 56% Social media 35% Newspaper advertising 34% Trade schools/training programs 30% Other 9% DIFFICULTY FINDING/KEEPING GOOD EMPLOYEES VS. A YEAR AGO AVERAGE SPENT PER EMPLOYEE ON TRAINING EACH YEAR HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO FIND AND KEEP EMPLOYEES IN THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS? Very Somewhat Not difficult at all Service Department 54% 28% 18% Manufacturing 35% 50% 15% Sales 26% 43% 31% Customer Service 24% 50% 26% Marketing 24% 47% 29% Marina 23% 46% 31% Office/support staff 11% 43% 46%