CIPD (Charted Institute of Personnel and Development) UK recently published the findings of their various surveys undertaken in 2010 indicating some interesting statistics, and some forecasts for 2011. While the statistics are UK based some may not be too dissimilar to what is being experienced by many HR professionals and people managers here.
Recruitment, despite the high levels of unemployment, remains a challenge for many employers particularly in filling “key positions” within their organisations. Employers would indicate the lack of specialist skills being top of the list. There is now a far greater focus in finding the “right person” for the role where in many instances new positions are being created following reorganisation and restructuring programmes in the recent past. This in turn creates even more demands on those seeking a career change, or seeking employment from a position of unemployment, in demonstrating their competencies to meet the needs in what is now clearly an employer’s market.
It is also interesting to note that many organisations are experiencing retention issues. A concern for their future security of employment has to be a major factor for many employees, particularly with the short term economic forecasts as they are and a concern for the viability of their existing employer in such an environment.
The report further indicates that many organisations will focus on in house development and on retention rather than recruitment in 2011, while indicating that mentoring / coaching programmes, by line managers, as being the most effective practices as part their talent development plans.
As part of business objectives to reduce recruitment costs “substantially more organisations expect to use new media/technology to recruit reducing the reliance on recruitment agencies” which would indicate a continued change in recruitment techniques by employers.
Interestingly short-term absenteeism, which accounts for two thirds of lost working time, continues to be a concern, and a high cost, for many organisations. The causes of short term absence include “minor illnesses such as colds, flu, migraine and headaches, while stress remains the second most common cause of short term absence” particularly among non manual workers.
The HR barometer would indicate that 2011 will continue to be a challenging year for all!
