5 Hot Employment Trends Job Seekers, Employers Need to Know

Are you thinking about hiring new employees, or considering a job change yourself? Especially in light of current economic conditions, job and employment-related topics are hot in the news lately. Major political and social debates are springing up as economic and generational shifts begin to have a major impact in the workplace and the business world. 

Understanding the top employment issues can help employers know what they will need to do to compete for qualified workers and can help job seekers tailor their efforts. Here’s a rundown of issues to watch. 

The Skilled-Worker Shortage

Numerous reports show that the labor market is increasingly tightening. Already, employers and the economy are feeling the effects. The worker shortage stems from the Baby Boomer generation entering retirement, cutting into the pool of skilled workers. In fact, analysts predict that by 2010, 40 percent of the current U.S. workforce will be eligible for retirement. One recent report by CareerBuilder.com showed that employers are finding it more difficult to fill open positions with qualified workers. Focusing on retaining top workers will help employers avoid this potential crisis. 

Enhanced Recruiting and Retention Programs

As Baby Boomers enter retirement and leave many positions open, employers are turning to non-traditional ways to recruit. There’s an increased focus in recruiting retirees and stay-at-home parents to return to the workforce. A CareerBuilder.com survey showed 21 percent of employers are likely to rehire retirees who can provide intellectual capital to the workplace. With this, many employers are seeing the need to offer flexible work schedules to appeal to these groups. CareerBuilder.com reported that 60 percent of employers currently offer flexible schedules and even more plan to provide these arrangements in 2008. Hiring freelance or contract workers also provides a good alternative by offering companies the business support they need without the costs associated with hiring full-time employees. Hiring retirees and freelance workers and providing flexible work arrangements allows employers to find skilled employees to work for their companies when the supply of skilled workers is low and the demand is high. 

An Emphasis on Benefits and Healthcare

Healthcare and benefits programs are a major topic for debate as the 2008 presidential election nears. The rising cost of healthcare will continue to be a concern for companies, particularly small business owners who traditionally find providing this coverage to be a financial hardship. But healthcare is an important recruiting factor, so employers must be competitive in offering these benefits to keep up with staffing demands and provide the benefits job seekers are looking for. Companies partnering with organizations to help offer or subsidize healthcare coverage will help companies afford to offer great benefits, enhancing their status as a great place to work.

 The Importance of Education and Experience

Higher education and greater experience will continue to pay this year, especially in top fields. Despite economic uncertainty, reports say college graduates in a variety of fields will face a better job market than last year. The National Association of Colleges and Employers recently reported that college-graduates will receive a starting salary 4 percent higher on average than previous years. Top fields such as technology and engineering will continue to be lucrative, with highly specialized jobs coming to the hiring forefront. Experts also say that in all fields, those with on-the-job experience will be in growing demand.

 The Role of the Web

As the Internet continues to change how people communicate, interact and learn, the role of the Web will continue to increase in the job world as well. Internet recruiting is up and it’s growing exponentially. More employers are posting jobs online than ever before, and more people are going to the Web to find them. But employers are also using the Web to research job candidates at a growing rate, according to the Society of Human Resource Management. Serious job seekers will face the challenge of making sure their profiles on online social-networking sites won’t harm their chances of getting a job while also using the Web to enhance their job search.  

Although no one is certain how these issues will play out long term, one thing is certain: these trends will continue to create buzz throughout the year. How workers and businesses respond will change the landscape of the American workforce for years to come.  

Express Employment Professionals is proud to serve the Central Massachusetts community by helping people find good jobs and local companies find good employees since 2003. Formerly known as Express Personnel Services, a new name and logo reflect the company’s commitment to respecting people and impacting business.