How Automation Can Help You Combat the Talent Shortage
In 2022, global talent shortages reached a 16-year high with 75% of employers reporting challenges in finding qualified employees to fill vacancies at their organizations (ManpowerGroup). While reasons for these shortages can and do vary by industry and even by region, it has become relatively clear that this talent shortage crisis is here to stay.
Thankfully we’ve discussed how to navigate a global talent shortage, and how retraining and upskilling your current staff can help you bridge the gap when talent shortages hit. But what role can automation play in helping you do more than simply survive these tough times? It can actually play an incredibly transformative role in addressing the talent shortage challenge. Leveraging a multifaceted approach to technology allows you to optimize your workforce.
What should you focus on first?
Streamline Recruitment Processes: Automation in recruitment can significantly enhance talent acquisition processes within your organization. From resume reviews to candidate assessments, leveraging, for example, AI-driven tools can help HR professionals identify suitable candidates more efficiently, saving time and resources.
Enhance Candidate Experiences: Implementing automation in the hiring process doesn't just benefit you as the employer. It improves the experience for job seekers as well. Automated communication tools provide timely updates to candidates, ensuring a smooth and transparent recruitment journey.
Optimize Workforce Productivity: Think about all the routine tasks your team(s) complete each day. Automation tools can streamline those tasks, allowing your staff to focus on higher-value projects. Optimize workflows to enhance overall workforce productivity and mitigate the impact of talent shortages on simple yet timely day-to-day operations.
Data-Driven Decision-Making: Data analytics allow your organization to make informed decisions about workforce planning. Harness this power by analyzing employee performance and market trends. You can then adapt your strategies to proactively address talent shortages.
Remote, Hybrid and Return To Office: Perhaps one of the largest upsides to automation is how seamlessly it allows facilitation and integration of remote work, whether full-time or in a hybrid structure. If you’re open to fully remote employees, this option allows you to expand your pool of potential candidates beyond typical geographical restraints (and even hybrid environments offer a value-add to the overall employee experience). Adaptability is crucial in attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive hiring landscape. Some workplaces are also moving towards returning to office policies as often times collaboration and team environments foster productive workforces.
As the talent shortage continues to challenge businesses, embracing the upside of automation has become imperatively strategic. Organizations can navigate the talent landscape more effectively and ensure sustainable success by leveraging technology to streamline recruitment, enhance employee development, and optimize overall productivity. Automation will help you and your teams cope during times of reduced staff and talent shortages by providing more time to handle other, more critical tasks versus the more time-consuming and repetitive ones. This will actually increase productivity, reduce stress, and combat burnout, which we already know are both leading causes of the talent shortage itself. In short, resist the urge to shy away from automation or artificial intelligence. Strive to embrace these technologies to find the best ways to support your existing and future workforce.
