Employers’ Expectations for Education and Skills of New Human Factors/Ergonomics Professionals

This paper reports the results from a survey administered to individuals in several companies whose responsibilities included either hiring or supervision of new human factors/ergonomics professionals. The survey asked about the knowledge and skills expected from new professionals entering the workplace. It was based on the survey previously administered to new professionals about their experiences in their first human factors jobs. The results both replicate and complement the findings of the previous survey. Many critical skills, such as communication skills, are not specific to the discipline. However, in over half of the Ergonomist Formation Model subdomains the respondents rated new professionals’ preparedness as only adequate. The open-ended questions allowed for a review of specific challenges and the responses echoed those of the new professionals’ responses last year. Application of the knowledge gained in college to practical design tasks was reported lacking in the new professionals’ skill set. Skills to effectively interact in multi-disciplinary and cross-functional teams were found wanting in both surveys. Results from both surveys offer a useful and cross-validated review of the current demands new professionals are facing, and a mandate to educators to develop human factors curricula in response to them.