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Press Release
Futurist Forecasts Rapid Change in 2005 As the last guest of the year on the Evening Business Wrap-Up on WBBN in Chicago, Business Futurist Roger Herman provided a number of thought-provoking forecasts for business leaders. In response to questions from host Bob Reed, Herman expressed his positive expectations for 2005. "The economy is growing, becoming healthier," Herman said. "The fear and paranoia that executives have felt over the past few years turned to hesitancy during the past few months. As we move into 2005, that hesitancy will turn into action, radically changing the playing field of business." Reed asked Herman what corporate leaders need to do as an expanding economy creates more jobs and opportunities. "Employee retention will be a major challenge," Herman replied, "especially since so many employers have taken their people for granted over the past four years. Recent surveys indicate that 30-40 percent of today's employees expect to change jobs during the first three quarters of 2005…and as many as 70 percent would like to have the opportunity to change employers." Flexibility will be a vital strategy, Herman explained, in work hours, work site, and work style. Citing recent research, Herman said that 52 percent of American workers are interested in telecommuting for at least part of their workweek. It's a global issue. The same study in Europe revealed that 60 percent of German workers would like to work from home at least part of the week. During the interview, heard by listeners in 26 states in the midwestern United States, Herman warned of "the most severe shortage of skilled workers in history." Citing his book, "Impending Crisis: Too Many Jobs, Too Few People," he talked about projections from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and how the shortage will intensify competition among recruiters for top talent. "We are already seeing some communities and industries shifting from a buyer's market back to a seller's in employment, and this movement will expand quickly. The employment market conditions of the late 1990s will seem like a practice session compared to the latter part of this decade." The Herman Group is a firm of consulting futurists concentrating on workforce and workplace trends and their implications. Emphasis is placed on employee selection and retention as critical strategies. Included in the firm are researchers, professional speakers, authors, and consultants. The Herman Group is based in Greensboro, NC, with affiliates in Sao Paulo, Melbourne, Hong Kong, and Port Louis, Mauritius. Contact Joyce Gioia-Herman at 336-210-3548 or e-mail: joyce@hermangroup.com. |
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