Some Employers Struggle For Perfect Candidates
Employers in Pennsylvania expect to hire at a healthy pace during the third quarter of 2011, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. From July to September, 22% of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees. Another 66% expect to maintain their current staff levels; only 7% anticipate a reduction in their payroll; and 5% are not certain of their hiring plans.
Hiring in our geographical area looks like it will follow the statewide-trend as job prospects appear to be best in construction, manufacturing, transportation, wholesale & retail trade, leisure & hospitality, and government. There is an expected downward trend in health services, as well as education, which has been a hot-button issue in the Poconos with layoffs for many of the local school districts due to a decrease in enrollment.
While we should see more jobs being filled in the upcoming months, many employers are struggling to find employees who meet their skill requirements. ManpowerGroup’s 6th annual Talent Shortage Survey revealed that 52 percent of US employers are experiencing difficulty filling open jobs, especially those in Skilled Trades, Sales Representatives and Engineers. Based on the results, many candidates are looking for more pay than is offered, lack of technical skills, and a lack of experience.
So if you’re an employer who looking to hire, here are some things to consider:
- Verify more than just the dates of a potential hiree’s previous employment…ask the contact person about the person’s work habits, including absenteeism, tardiness, personal calls at the office, time spent on the internet, etc.; what computer programs they used regularly as well as their skill level (yes, they used MS Word, but were they always asking for help?); what versions of computer programs did they use; did they perform all the tasks listed in their resume; what was their starting and ending pay rate,; and a must ask question—would they hire them back?
- Is the compensation package you’re offering similar in terms of salary and benefits to other companies in this local area? If not, you might need to re-evaluate your compensation offer or perhaps re-think the skills your potential employee needs to work for you. Is your “Executive Assistant” more of a “Receptionist” based on the day-to-day tasks they will perform? Is your “Transportation Engineer” more of a “Mechanic” when you review their job tasks?
- Is there training available that can give a great candidate those missing skills you must have? If you need a person who knows Access 2007 and your find only know Access 95, why not think about signing them up to take an Access 2007 class? It will probably be a great investment for both of you.
It might be easier for you to make some modifications to your required skill set rather than searching for a candidate who might not exist or who exists for more than you can afford to pay them.
In September 2011, Manpower will release their Employment Outlook Survey for the 4th quarter. Some trends may stay the same while new ones may appear. But some things rarely change…workers will always be looking for better employment and employers will always be looking for outstanding workers. Where do you fit into that equation?
About Manpower
Manpower, with a local office in Tannersville, PA, is a leader in innovative workforce solutions; creating and delivering services that enable its clients to win in the changing world of work. The company offers employers a range of services for the entire employment and business cycle including permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment and selection; training; and consulting. The focus of Manpower’s work is on raising productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction across their total workforce, enabling clients to concentrate on their core business activities. Manpower is committed to exceeding client expectations, as evidenced by its 2010 Net Promoter Score of 50 percent, significantly above industry average. More information on Manpower is available at http://www.us.manpower.com or press.manpower.com. Manpower is part of the ManpowerGroup family of companies, which also includes Experis, ManpowerGroup Solutions and Right Management.
