| The
Future of HR
Don Schmitz/Human Resource Staffing
I've
seen it before and probably will see it again. The pendulum
of labor swings…
As
approximately 2.9 million American students take to the classroom
this fall, Chicago-based outplacement firm Challenger, Gray
& Christmas Inc., reported only 2 percent of the human
resource executives actually recommended HR as the best field
of study for college freshmen. HR scored next to last, just
above law (1.4 percent). The top choices were computer computer
science (16%), engineering (15.2) and medicine (14.3). Where
will this leave our future?
At
the same time, HR management is giving increased attention
to spending cuts as companies struggle to boost earnings.
Is
HR leading or following? Do we spend too much time resolving
employee grievances, bench marketing our compensation and
improving benefits instead of cross-training our best employees.
Let's
review the conditions why we face a severe shortage of trained
talent.
•
The world is a global market with high international mobility
•
Our workforce continues to age and at some point will retire
•
Because of low fertility rates it will be impossible for our
young to replace those expected to retire in the next ten
years
•
Generation Y will bring different values to the workplace
•
We are facing shortages of highly trained scientists and engineers
Despite
the current economic downturn, the conditions for severe shortages
of top trained employees have not gone away. HR professionals
must adopt a strong global perspective toward recruiting and
identifying the rising stars in their organizations.
Companies
who continue to invest in human capital during the recession
will enjoy a strong competitive advantage when economic conditions
improve. These companies will be easily recognized because
the leaders or these organizations will be heavily involved
in mentoring and coaching their young employees. They will
provide strong training in technical programs to their key
employees sharpening existing skills and improving morale.
These same companies will acquire top talent from weaker organizations
and increase their long term market potential.
The
pendulum of labor surplus will indeed change again. In preparing
our workforce of tomorrow, it is strong HR leaderships that
will determine who will survive in the decades ahead.
Back to the library
Reproduction
of this article cannot be accomplished without the expressed
consent of Human Resource Staffing. Don Schmitz is a popular
speaker and writer on all aspects of HR and CEO of Human Resource
Staffing. Don holds graduate degrees in Education, Administration
and Human Development.
Contact Don@HumanResourceStaffingInc.com
952 854 6040
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