ManpowerGroup Reports on Improved Sustainable Workforces in Latest Talent Survey

 The results of ManpowerGroup’s eighth annual Talent Shortage Survey show that 39 percent of employers continue to have difficulty in filling certain skilled positions, but the statistic fell by 10 points from 2012. U.S. employers have also reported a more noticeable short of talent compared to the rest of the world, with 35 percent experiencing problems with acquiring talent for key jobs. Just shy of half of employers reported understanding that talent shortages affect their relationships with both clients and customers.

“Our survey results demonstrate that U.S. employers have awakened to the realities of the talent shortage and are implementing innovative strategies to work through the business challenges it brings,” Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup president, said. “However, year-after-year, we see little difference in the roles employers have trouble filling. As talent shortages in key areas persist, we need to focus on training programs that create opportunity for employers to fill their talent gaps, and for job seekers to obtain an in-demand skill and achieve employment security.”

The survey found that the 10 most difficult positions to fill in the U.S. in 2013 include (in descending order):

• Skilled trades

• Sales representatives

• Drivers

• IT staff

• Accounting and financing staff

• Engineers

• Technicians

• Management/executives

• Mechanics

• Teachers

The most challenging hurdles reported by employers in filling open positions were found to be: lack of technical competencies/hard skills in candidates (48 percent); lack of workplace competencies/soft skills (33 percent); and lack of available candidates (32 percent). Participants in the survey did report that they are taking steps to compensate for the talent shortage through developing new people practices, altering work models, and using different talent-sourcing methods.