Is your company struggling to find workers? How long have your openings been open? Canada is currently facing a labour shortage. The unemployment rate that we’ve seen over the last year is the lowest our country has seen in about 50 years. So, what do you do when most people already have jobs? A great way to counteract the current skill shortage is to upskill current employees. Read below for ways your organization can upskill workers during a labour shortage.
Prioritize Retention
Keep your good employees. Find a way to keep them engaged in both their role and in the culture of your company. Listen to your workers to seek out deficiencies. You need to know what the problem is if you’re going to be successful in solving it. After all, you don’t want to lose your top talent to your competitor. So, think of introducing flexible schedules, increased leave allowances or employee benefits.
Invest in Training
You’ve already built a team who knows your business. Then, why not train them to be your best asset? You can mold employee skill sets specifically to your business. It allows for better career progression planning. When hiring, focus on finding good cultural match and consider training on the skills you need and know can be learned. For more on upskilling, read A Strategist’s Guide to Upskilling.
Review the Recruitment Process
Take a look at what the process actually looks like. Consider where you’re advertising to attract candidates. Are you looking in the right place? Often we fall into behavioural patterns in recruitment. We get used to the way we’ve always done it. In a labour shortage, creativity is key. So, if your approach isn’t working, change it! Find what works.
Utilize Contingent Workers
Many more individuals are choosing to work on a contingent basis, allowing them greater flexibility. Some statistics suggest that about 30% of the workforce is composed of contingent workers and it’s only expected to grow from there. Can your openings be filled with freelancers, contractors or consultants? By tapping into the pool of workers, your organization may save money associated with the hiring and onboarding process.
Don’t let your business suffer during the challenge to find employees. Be proactive and focus on how to creatively fill your open roles, whether that is to upskill workers during a labour shortage, or working with freelancers. Human Resource Executive has a great article on why Now is the Time to Start Upskilling your Workforce.
