USING JOB ADVERTISEMENTS TO IDENTIFY WORKFORCE SKILLS NEEDED BY BACHELORS-LEVEL GEOSCIENTISTS

Preparing graduates to enter the workforce is a common goal of undergraduate geoscience degree programs and requires knowledge of the skills sought by employers of bachelor-level geoscientists. This study sought to identify which workforce skills are most requested from a broad range of geoscience employers. We systematically analyzed job advertisements retrieved from 4 search engines between May and November 2020 and 2021. We used 15 search words derived from the 2018 Status of the Geoscience Workforce (AGI) to select job advertisements that required or preferred a geoscience-based bachelor's degree. Our sample consists of 3668 advertisements that represent a variety of geoscience industry sectors (i.e., oil and gas, environmental) and occupations (i.e., environmental scientist, geologist). We created a list of 34 workforce skills, 6 dispositions, 22 field skills, and 3 computer skills from previously published work and through deductive and inductive coding processes. Advertisements were not coded for geoscience content knowledge. Employers seek individuals with the ability to conduct various types of fieldwork; ability to plan work, collect, process, and interpret data; and communicate effectively. The ability to assess and evaluate field locations was the most frequently listed field skill. Some skills, such as written communication were commonly requested for all occupations while other skills greatly differed by occupation. For example, field skills were found in 81% of environmental scientist ads but only 8% of soil scientist ads. Data collection skills were found in 83% of geologist ads and no more than 60% of ads for any other occupation. Our results provide insight into the expectations of potential employers for recent graduates seeking a career in geoscience. Additionally, our results provide geoscience degree programs with critical information required to prepare undergraduates with the necessary skills to be successful in the current job market.