PSVII-28 Hiring expectations for new and future workers in animal STEM careers.

Abstract Aligning educational experiences with industry needs is critical to ensuring long-term career benefits for students, and an educated work force for industries related to animal science. Engaging professionals within the animal breeding and genetics industries allows us to identify the key scientific, technological, and transferable (i.e., psychosocial) skills required in the field. To this end, we developed an industry-focused survey to assess current hiring practices and expectations for college-educated workers in animal breeding and genetics. The survey asked respondents to indicate the level of competency required and level of actual proficiency of new hires in seven competencies (critical thinking, communication, teamwork, leadership, professionalism, career and self-development, equity and inclusion), with 1 being not required/none and 6 being most required/high. Respondents were also asked to identify additional technical and transferable skills required for new hires. After validating the instrument and evaluating it for bias, the survey was distributed via two channels: 1) a curated list of 220 professionals across animal genetics and breeding-related industries, and 2) corporate members of the International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG). When asked about the competencies most critical for success in full-time, entry-level positions, industry representatives ranked teamwork (mean = 5.23; on a 6-point scale), professionalism (mean = 4.95), and critical thinking/oral communication (mean = 4.77) as most important (n = 22). However, ratings of actual proficiency for new graduates were less for each skill, though the same three competencies remained top-ranked: teamwork (mean = 4.18), professionalism (mean = 3.91), and critical thinking (mean = 3.64). General skills expected of new hires included work ethic (mean = 5.32), teamwork (mean = 5.00), adaptability/flexibility (mean = 4.95), and problem-solving (mean = 4.93). Regarding content knowledge, the greatest expectations were for genetics (mean = 3.68 for basic genetic knowledge, mean = 3.55 for molecular genetics knowledge), bioinformatics (mean = 3.41), and general statistics (mean = 3.36). Low to moderate standard deviations and minimal skewness across all items indicated consensus among respondents, with some variation. Additionally, industry leaders emphasized emerging trends and needs, particularly in bioinformatics, computational biology, coding, data science, and project management. The most frequently cited skills desired in new hires included problem-solving, dependability, initiative, attention to detail, collaboration, adaptability, communication, and time management. These findings underscore critical areas for strengthening educational pathways in STEM-based animal and equine science disciplines to better align with evolving industry needs.