Talent Trends

Having an existing and tight talent pool, exacerbated by the pandemic, leaves middle market businesses facing an unprecedented talent gap.

What do some thought leaders see as the future of staffing, and what are the strategies that can be used to create the workforce of tomorrow?

No sector is immune

Prior to the pandemic, the biggest talent gaps were in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—the STEM positions—but now the gaps extend into broader areas of general business, particularly involving data or economics. New talent gaps are also emerging in sophisticated trades and in manufacturing and logistics with laborer jobs.

The new world of work

Workers have new expectations around remote work flexibility, work-life balance, and career development, including training, transferrable skills, and new experiences—and if they don’t get these things, they’re moving on. Company values and corporate culture are also increasingly important in a tight job market, particularly among younger generations in the workforce.

Best of both worlds

For middle market companies, a powerful option to fill their talent gaps is a hybrid approach of upskilling and outsourcing. This lean model keeps in-house the key strategic roles that drive the business—hiring and upskilling as needed—but outsources non-core functions to experienced managed services partners.