Talent Business Forum dives into talent gap and strategies to attract and retain workers

At our recent Talent Business Forum, experts discussed what is causing the workforce shortage, what the future holds for workforce growth and incentives available to businesses.

Keynote speaker Jim Morgan, MRA's Vice President of Business Development & Workforce Strategies, explained the shortage of talent is a demographic issue, not an economic issue. And it is one that has been slow to brew, now coming to fruition and accelerated by the pandemic. These long-term demographic trends include a decrease in the birthrate and an aging workforce. In 2020, 3.2 million Boomers chose to leave the workforce early, and the number of independent gig workers jumped from 38 to 51 million. While the U.S. is almost back to full employment, the factors above make everything more difficult. Iowa is not diverse, is not a destination for international domestic workers, and the QC is not a hub.

He outlined various strategies to attract and retain the current talent pool, including: 

• Make new employees feel immediately welcomed and part of the organization.
• Treat workers better than your best customer and ensure the benefits you offer align with what they believe are benefits.
• Establish a company culture that makes you an employer of choice.
• Adapt recruiting and interviewing processes that fit a tech-first generation.
• Use freelancers to fill in the spaces, seek diverse candidates including people with disabilities, offer retirees the option to work part-time as a consultant, mentor and more.

Count out the replay video of the event and download the presenters' slides. This information is valuable to the success of your business and the success of the QC region.