Rebecca Kirkman
President
Hire Up Staffing & Healthcare Services
March 16, 2021
Staying on top of industry trends is vital for the Hire Up Staffing & Healthcare Services team as we work to support the needs of both the job seeker and the employers placing them. Monitoring national employment situation data serves as a benchmarking tool for us to ensure we are best serving the diverse needs of our customers. Add in the tumultuous time of a pandemic, and the importance of keeping a close eye on the ever-changing climate is more important than ever!
With Hire Up, we have your back. Whether you are one of the 6.3% of the population out of work or are working to fill temporary and/or permanent positions, we are here to support you. Our recent analysis shows favorable job increases within specific industries. Want to learn more?
In January, employment in professional and business services rose by 97,000, with temporary help services accounting for most of the gain (+81,000). Job growth was also seen in management and technical consulting services (+16,000), computer systems design and related services (+11,000), and scientific research and development services (+10,000).
We currently have openings within these industries across the country. Job seekers, we can help! Click here to see our list of available positions.
Trends
Skills to Bring to the Table in 2021- What Employers Want
The Hays Salary and Recruiting trends report suggests that employers will be placing more emphasis on technical skills and soft skills in 2021. Of the soft skills most sought after, communication is at the top of the list.
- Technical Skills: Given the increasing demand for the use of technology, technical skills in 2021 is something many employers may seek.
- Soft Skills: Employers are wise to look for capable communicators able to navigate effectively through the changing needs of today.
Employers, are you looking for technically driven communicators able to roll with the punches? We have a host of qualified candidates looking to put such skills to work for you. Click here to learn more!
Organizational Offerings in 2021- What Employees Need
While 2021 is requiring employers to seek out specific characteristics and skills of their employees, jobseekers are also finding a reason to seek work with companies able to offer benefits that meet their needs and the changing needs of their families.
- Flexibility. Given the challenges parents face with changes in school arrangements, flexibility ranks high on the list of priorities for job seekers.
- Mental Health Resources. Now more than ever, job seekers rank employee wellness and mental health support as a benefit they value from a prospective employer.
- Safety, Security, and Health. Working to meet/exceed employee expectations during COVID-19 is vital. Ensuring workplace cleanliness, maintaining a safe work environment, and a consistent pre-screening protocol is particularly important to employees.
Hire Up is partnered with countless employers who can offer such solutions for the specific needs of job seekers today. All are mandated to meet the COVID19 guidelines outlined by the CDC, both on a local and national level. And most all employers we work with offer flexible schedules-including temporary arrangements and employee assistance programs for wellness. Interested in learning more? Check here for more information on temporary opportunities in your area.
Employer Challenges
A Workforce Plan During a Pandemic?
Employers have had to remain nimble, learning on the fly, all while struggling to plan during a time of global uncertainty. Add in the need and desire to create new safety policies, stay on top of all mandated workplace COVID19 protocols—it is a lot. This challenge is further compounded within many industries when trying to find a skilled employee looking for a permanent position. It can feel impossible.
While unemployment numbers highlight joblessness, many employers report finding it difficult to fill their available positions. Some companies continue to attempt to entice permanent workers by offering additional incentive pay per hour and/or sign-on bonuses. However, the extra pay has not paid off for many of the organizations looking to fill these permanent positions.
Why is it that employers are finding it difficult to hire for permanent positions? Some of the reasons identified include:
- Perhaps the most obvious, extended, and increased unemployment benefits.
- Many laid-off restaurant and retail workers are not skilled for the industries in need of workers.
A “Temporary” Solution?
Many businesses are finding temporary workers to be the solution for remaining nimble in the current climate. By turning to temporary and contract workers, “Businesses can ramp up operations quickly to meet client and consumer demands without the fear of bringing back permanent employees who might have to be laid off if the recovery is not proved to be sustainable,” says Richard Wahlquist, CEO of the American Staffing Association.
Other benefits to employers when hiring temporary help:
- Save time, money, effort
- Access to a larger candidate pool
- Increase hiring speed
- Flexibility
- Vetted candidates: screening, credentials, reference checks completed
There are also plenty of benefits for the temporary worker. Some of those include:
- Flexibility
- A faster hiring process
- Show continuous employment on a resume
- A chance to try out something new
- Build a professional network
If the adage is true and that eating an entire elephant is best done one bite at a time, temporary help may be the best bet for getting through this beast of a pandemic. Temporary workers have the expectation, and quite often the desire, to have their employment be just that– temporary. Temporary workers are often attracted to such work because they have found a way to construct flexibility within their work roles right out of the gate.
Are the organizational benefits of adding temporary positions of interest to you? Do you think this “temporary solution” can satisfy the immediate needs of your organization? Many employers are finding that creating temporary positions is key for meeting their workforce challenges so far this year. Remember, 81,000 temporary help positions were created in this country within the month of January alone.
Interested in making this happen for your team? It can feel overwhelming facing these unusual workforce challenges on your own. Allow us to help! Call our team and together, let’s create a workforce plan to best fit the needs of your business today.
There is no doubt that 2021 will bring forth opportunities to leverage new and emerging employment trends. Follow the Hire Up Staffing & Healthcare Services Blog to stay connected with a variety of topics aimed to help support you! Whether you are an active job seeker looking for tips and tricks to land your perfect job or an employer looking to fill a challenging position, we are here to help you HIRE UP!
Sources:
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION — JANUARY 2021 (bls.gov)
2021 U.S. Hays Salary Guide | Out Now | Hays Specialist Recruitment
What do employers want in 2021? | ACCA Global
The Top 10 Workplace Trends For 2021 (linkedin.com)
Rebecca Kirkman, President | March 16, 2021|
Rebecca Kirkman is the President and Founder of Hire Up Staffing & Healthcare Services. Rebecca’s mission is as simple today as it was when she started Hire Up over 10 years ago: Connecting great Employers with great Employees. Hire Up leads job seekers to their dream careers and employers to their dream team. The true belief in the human connection and that people hire people is a passion for every Hire Up employee. Rebecca was proudly named the #1 Woman-Owned Business by The Business Journal.