Companies Must Stay Focused on Advancing Workers’ Overall Capabilities; Individuals Must Proactively Develop Their Skills
MILWAUKEE (June 1, 2012) – ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, advises both employers and individuals to change their mindsets about the hiring process, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today reported that the overall jobless rate ticked up to 8.2 percent in May, and that the U.S. private sector added only 69,000 new jobs last month. Jobs were added in health care, transportation and warehousing, wholesale trade and manufacturing. BLS revised its March private sector figure from 154,000 to 143,000, and its April jobs figure from 115,000 to 77,000.
While companies are hiring, the pace of job creation is slowing, compared to figures at the start of the year. An average of 226,000 jobs were added each month last quarter in the United States.
According to ManpowerGroup’s 2012 Talent Shortage Survey results released last week, one-third (34%) of employers globally identify a lack of available skilled talent to their organizations. At same time, 56% of employers indicate unfilled positions are expected to have little or no impact on key constituents, such as customers and investors. This figure is up from 36% last year.
“Hiring will always be based on demand for products and services, but economic stagnation is no reason to avoid the critical need to develop and implement an aggressive strategy for recruiting and development talent,” said Jeffrey A. Joerres, ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO. “Demand slowed in second quarter in the U.S., but it didn’t dry up. Pacifism is not an effective approach to any aspect of business, particularly the development of a company’s talent, the absolute competitive advantage required to win in today’s Human Age.”
According to ManpowerGroup’s 2012 results, 49% of U.S. employers struggle to fill mission-critical positions. Skilled trades, engineering and IT positions continue to place on this list year after year.
U.S. Hardest Jobs to Fill in 2012
1. Skilled Trades
2. Engineers
3. IT Staff
4. Sales Representatives
5.Accounting & Finance Staff
6. Drivers
7. Mechanics
8. Nurses
9. Machinists/Machine Operators
10. Teachers
As today’s slow economic recovery fosters a state of complacency, misguided employers have learned to do more with fewer workers, but are failing to prepare a new generation of workers to fill roles performed workers who are ready to retire. When demand picks up, this approach is likely to stifle growth opportunities.
“Solving the talent mismatch requires effort from everyone who has a vested interest in the workforce,” said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup President of the Americas and Chairman of Junior Achievement USA. “Employers and individuals in particular need to adopt a sense of urgency toward addressing it. Candidates can aggressively pursue training options and promote their efforts through employability profiles.”
Read ManpowerGroup’s thought leadership on employability profiles, which are intended to supplement traditional resumes by documenting an individual’s progress against meeting goals: Hire and Retain the Best with Success Mapping: New Models for Unlocking Human Potential.
