This Week's Herman Trend Alert

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  The Herman Trend Alert

October 14, 2009

Unprecedented Churning is Coming

Now in its fifth year, the 2009 Employment Dynamics and Growth Expectations (EDGE) Report reveals some fascinating insights into what is going on in the hearts and minds of today's employees. A collaboration of the international staffing firm Robert Half, Inc. and a global provider of human capital solutions, Career Builder, this year's report provides an overview of the current hiring environment and a preview of the post-recession job market.

A full 47 percent of managers surveyed cited "a shortage of qualified applicants" as their top hiring challenge*. Hiring managers said their time-to-fill a vacancy was an average 4.5 to 14.4 weeks. They also reported that 44 percent of the resumes received are "not qualified". The characteristics most valued by these hiring managers were "multitasking", "initiative", and "creative problem solving". Forty percent also reported that when the economy improves, they expect to use money as their primary method for retaining top performers.

EDGE 2009 reveals interesting insights about the employee's perspective as well. Not surprising to us, 45percent plan to change "jobs, careers, or industries" when the economy recovers. Perhaps as a result of fear and/or the current state of the economy, nine out of ten "are satisfied with their current work situations". Nearly half of employees surveyed said higher compensation will be the most effective way to retain them after the economy improves. The top perks employees will be looking for are technology upgrades (79 percent) and tuition reimbursement or subsidized training (61 percent).

Forty percent of companies said they intended to bring on contract, part-time, and/or temporary employees; they are not simply focusing on full-time hiring. Information Technology and Customer Service were the top areas for expected hiring in the coming years.

Due to "corporate cocooning" (staying put out of fear), the "unprecedented churning" of the labor market we have forecast in the past has not yet happened. Now, we again see a high level of expectation of job hopping. Wise employers will heed this warning and take steps now to engage their valued employees and avoid this unwanted turnover. It will be full employment for Employee Retention SpecialistsTM.

* Recently, a vocal cadre of our readers has appeared to dispute this finding


© Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc."


BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM
A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548 (PDT this and next week).

BUSINESS IS PICKING UP
Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com.

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL
Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html.


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