What are the top HR trends you should pay attention to in 2015?

Where do we start?! Evolving technology. Increasing globalization. Shifting demographics. Increasing skills gaps. New legislation.

Quite honestly, our world of work is changing so rapidly that it’s impossible to cover every priority for successful HR professionals in a single blog post. So today, Exact Staff takes a look at three of the most significant trends:

Changes in workforce demographics.

Baby boomers are exiting the workforce in droves, and Gen Y is filling the void. In fact, according to Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends 2014 report, millennial workers are predicted to make up 75% of the global workforce by 2020.

As this generation moves into leadership positions, HR must adapt its recruiting and retention strategies to address millennial employees’:

• Need for flexibility
• High tolerance for change
• Desire for honest, timely performance feedback
• “Gig”-oriented work mentality

Increasing reliance on mobile technology.

From working remotely to accessing benefits information to applying for positions, mobile tech has transformed the way people find and perform their jobs. But there’s a huge disconnect. According to a recent Forbes.com article on workplace trends, 83% of job seekers currently use smart phones to search for jobs, yet just 20% of Fortune 500 employers have a mobile-friendly career site.

To stay competitive and increase efficiency as technology continues to evolve, HR professionals should:

• Improve ease of access and usability for employees’ mobile experiences.
• Optimize career portals to appeal to today’s on-the-go job seeker.
• Develop and implement comprehensive BYOD policies to increase compliance and minimize inherent mobile technology risks.

Widening skills gaps.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 4.7 million job openings last June. More than 50% of employers say they can’t find enough qualified candidates to fill those openings. And with unemployment continuing to creep downward, this skills gap will only increase throughout 2015.

What should HR leaders do to address the problem? Here are a few suggestions for closing the gap:

• Train your existing employees. If you can’t hire people with the skills you need, create them. Invest in training your team to develop essential competencies.
• Recruit well in advance of your hiring needs. Give yourself extra time to find candidates in today’s tightening market.
• Rely on a staffing partner like Exact Staff to shorten your time-to-hire, control recruiting costs and find exceptional people with hard-to-find skill sets.

Exact Staff stays on top of the trends impacting your organization.

As changes workforce demographics, technology and business continue to transform HR’s role, Exact Staff is here to help. Together, we can develop a staffing strategy to address your top priorities – and ensure flexible, cost-effective access to the talented people you need. Did you know our CEO is on the Board of Directors of the American Staffing Association? This is IMPORTANT because you can rest-assured that she is aware of the most recent legislative issues effecting staffing and human resources and Exact Staff will keep you “up to the minute” on these issues.  Reach out to us today!