Dive Brief:
- With labor shortages expected to reach unprecedented levels by 2019, a new report by The Conference Board outlines what companies are doing to increase applicant flow, including allowing more teleworking and lowering prerequisites for some jobs.
- The report notes that the original trend of upskilling for jobs, which was reaching a peak around the time of the recession, has reversed and that more companies are willing to hire individuals without specific postsecondary degrees.
- Employers are also willing to hire more remote workers, consider automation and hire outside traditional applicant groups. More women and senior workers are likely to benefit from the pressure businesses are experiencing in a tight applicant market, the report notes.
Dive Insight:
The move to hire based on skills instead of specific credentials has been gaining traction for some time, as formerly reliable applicant sources aren't coming through. Major players worldwide, like IBM, recently dropped degree requirements for a host of their vacancies.
Innovation is coming to quell the fears of employers who may be antsy about giving up their credential requirements. The self-taught may still struggle to highlight their talents, but digital credentialing companies are hoping to be the answer, allowing candidates to demonstrate their talent to an ever-increasingly receptive business community.
Many groups are positioning themselves in a new light in this changing market paradigm; veterans, women and minorities are finding more opportunity as companies push to diversify their employee base. As employers reconsider the place of tried and true recruitment tactics, like campus hiring, more seasoned workers may reap the benefits. And generally, as businesses adjust to these new trends, recruiters will have to be more creative and flexible to meet demand.
An employer that offers a solid benefits program, values employees and encourages autonomy and development can make a recruiter's job that much easier.