Philadelphia — July 24

Despite the weak job market, two-thirds of more than 100 U.S. companies surveyed have found it difficult to fill key positions during the past year, according to Right Management, a talent and career management unit within workforce services firm ManpowerGroup. Seventy percent of the organizations reported that they “definitely” found it hard to recruit for certain jobs while 25 percent said it was “somewhat” difficult.

“The latest findings are consistent with data gathered globally by Right Management parent ManpowerGroup,” said Michael Haid, Right Management’s senior vice president for talent management. “U.S. employers have been facing greater recruitment challenges than firms in most industrialized nations with the exception of Japan. The problem is what’s been described as a ‘talent mismatch’ with prospective job applicants lacking technical competencies or hard skills required by specific industries.”

Companies are responding to the challenge in a variety of ways, Haid added. “There’s been a steady rise in the contingent workforce as well as efforts to expand the skills of current employees. They’re also a growing trend toward hiring the ‘teachable fit,’ individuals without all the prerequisite job skills, but who have the potential to grown into a specialized role.”

The survey of 110 U.S. organizations was conducted between June 16 and July 15.

Source: Right Management