Now
that the Great Recession is ending and a recovery is underway, people are
scrambling to reposition themselves in the best jobs. There will be big
opportunities out there, and in the long run, it will be a seller’s market for
those employees with the most valuable skills as a new growth era dawns.
We’re
just now beginning to get some idea of what’s ahead, and that may give some
employers an opportunity to get prepared. Employment, of course, is always the
last indicator to recover after a recession, since it takes the economy some
time to pick up the momentum required to stimulate hiring. So, while many
employees are dissatisfied, they aren’t ready to “jump ship” just yet
The
2009 Employment Dynamics and Growth Expectations (EDGE)1 depicts the “lay of the land.” Not
surprisingly, it shows that there are still a lot more people seeking jobs
today than there are open positions at firms. But, it also shows what may not
be as obvious: Almost half the managers surveyed can’t find qualified
applicants. So while it’s difficult for the average person to find
a job, there are plenty of jobs going unfilled because the people with the
skill sets that are in the highest demand are already employed, and they are
reluctant to change jobs in an uncertain market.
Companies
that have been cutting staff and optimizing operations are now poised for the
turnaround, and they are ready to hire so that they can benefit from the growth
that the economic recovery will deliver. A primary focus of this new hiring
will be the customer service jobs that are critical to success in expanding
sales and retaining customers. The most important skills cited in the survey
were sales, marketing, creativity, and technological knowledge. Public
relations, communications, business development, and accounting or finance
skills were also high on the list.
In
fact, employers are already anticipating a full recovery for the economy in the
next year or two and considering what areas of their businesses will benefit
most from investments in human resources.
DailyFinance.com2 cited a recent survey by Watson Wyatt
consultants showing that half the companies are easing hiring...
