While the unemployment rate is still hovering around 9 percent, many employers are finding a hidden challenge: a mismatch between available talent and the needs of companies looking to hire.
Many factors can contribute to the inability of employers to find the talent to fill vacancies, from job seekers who lack the right skill set to candidates who may not be a good fit within the culture of the company or who believe that specialized skills should automatically result in getting paid more for those skills.
To bridge the gap, several trends are emerging to fill the needs of a rebounding economy:
• Companies are hiring temporary workers to fill gaps or bringing on temp-to-hire staff to make sure they fit well within the organization.
• Firms are looking outside the local area to find ideal candidates.
• Firms are expanding training and professional development offerings to court and keep top talent.
Once a company finds the perfect match, it must focus on retention to avoid repeating the same costly and time-consuming process. By offering employees development opportunities, they have a chance to expand and grow within the organization.
Given today's talent shortage, top employers are dispensing with "just-in-time" hiring practices and adopting new strategies. Those that cling to old methods are likely to find their business suffering and their team decreasing in productivity.
Liz Walters, SPHR, is Marketplace Staffing's branch manager of the firm's Fountain Inn office. Contact her at ewalters@marketplacestaffing.com.