And the Survey Says….
According a to recent study by Man Power Group 40% of Global employers say that there’s a talent shortage. In that same study, it shows that the last time the shortage was this high was in 2007 when it was at 41%.
As a result of this shortage, 53% of global employers are turning to internal training and development to address the shortages. Whereas 36% of other global employers are recruiting outside the talent pool.
Here are the top ten roles that employers struggle to fill globally:
- Skill Trades (Such as electricians, carpenters, welders, bricklayers, plasterers, plumbers, masons and more.)
- IT Staff (Including developers, programmers and database admins.)
- Sales Representatives (Retail sales people, sales advisors and sales executives.)
- Engineers (Including mechanical, electrical and civil engineers.)
- Technicians (Production, operations and maintenance technicians.)
- Drivers (Which include truck, heavy goods, heavy equipment and construction.)
- Accounting and Finance Staff (Bookkeepers, certified accountants and financial analysts.)
- Management and Executives
- Production/Machine Operations
- Office Support Staff
Location, Location, Location
The priority of the roles needed by employers also vary by region. Based on the report, in the Americas skilled trades, technicians and sales reps are the top 3. Wheres in Asia-Pacific the top 3 are IT personnel, sales representatives and Engineers. While in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) the need is for Skilled trades, drivers and engineers.
Why It’s Hard
According to Employers the reasons the roles are hard to fill include:
- Lack of available applicants or there are no applicants.
- Lack of hard skills (The technical skills required to do the job)
- Lack of experiences
- Looking for more pay than what is offered for the role.
- Lack of soft skills (workplace competencies – these might include interpersonal and communication skills; emotional intelligence)
What Does All This Mean?
Caribbean parents everywhere are rejoicing! Because their preferred career tracks for their children are in demand. See popular meme.
What’s missing from this is meme is accountant and nurse. Also maybe disgrace is a little harsh…no not really, but anyway let’s used disappointed instead.
Seriously though…
1.Go where there’s the need. If you’re looking for a new job or looking to change paths you should be looking at gaining skills that align with these 10 roles. Employers are looking for strong candidates who can fill these roles. So make sure your candidate assets are aligned to market you in the best light. This includes your LinkedIn Profile, your resume, cover letter and social media.
2.Relocation might be a good option. According to the survey, countries where employers are having the most difficulty filling roles include, Japan, Taiwan, Romania and Hong Kong. Depending on your personal situations, if you have the skills and are a strong candidate for these roles, it might be a good opportunity for those who are able to go oversees for opportunities. If you’re seriously considering relocation, be sure to research these countries for American, Black or Caribbean expat communities.
Check resources like:
- Internations.org
- Expatform.com
- Nomadness Travel Tribe and Travel Noire cater to black travelers and offer tips for those considering moving abroad.
3. Invest in yourself. Talent shortage or not it’s always a great move for employers to invest in continuing professional development for existing employees. Most employees want to feel like they’re growing in a role, if they don’t they’re more likely to leave. Lack of opportunities for career advancement and stronger career path and opportunities are the reasons leave companies and why others join companies respectively.
With that said, employees shouldn’t only rely on employers for continuing professional development. Which is why we’ve always encouraged continued learning via the use of alternative options for picking up skills such as Lynda.com or MOOCs. Lynda.com now has courses based on a particular career path. Investing in yourself by doing self-paced programs and other training/learning outlets is a great way to keep competitive in the market place.
