Top 7 I.T. Staffing Challenges in 2023

Happy Monday everyone! As I'm now back in the driver seat after an amazing Procom company retreat in Nashville, I thought it would be great to share some of the topics we covered in terms of the labor market and strategies Contingent Staffing Program Managers, Hiring Managers, and Human Resources Executives can use to ensure their hiring goals are met in this crazy employment market we find ourselves in while entering 2024. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 150,000 new jobs were added in October. It was below expectations and provided an initial indication that what had been a surprisingly strong job market might be slowing. Another signal was that job growth data for August and September was revised downward. The unemployment rate rose slightly in October to 3.9%, up from 3.8% in August and September, but still lingering near 50-year lows. In I.T. jobs it's less than 2%.

The labor market is a key Fed focus in its effort to combat persistent inflation. Fed officials have clarified that one objective for achieving lower inflation is tempering wage growth. The latest jobs report indicates progress in achieving the Fed's fighting inflation objective, with wage growth at 4.1% for the 12 months ending in October. Even with this downward in the number of jobs created last month, we are still seeing millions of jobs open with most of them going longer than 45 days to fill. In IT, the average time to fill a role is 66 days. That's just far too long and candidates know they are in a "candidate's" market to use a real estate term.

Partnering with a staffing agency that goes beyond presenting candidates is crucial in today's digital economy. Procom understands the evolving IT landscape and offers a comprehensive range of staffing solutions, including direct hire, temporary and contract work, Statement of Work engagements, Direct Sourcing, and a game-changing client portal. This portal allows clients to brand themselves within our private network and access candidates from our database for their internal hiring teams, making it a practical and user-friendly alternative to traditional Vendor Management Systems (VMS).

The IT recruitment landscape is fraught with challenges, and organizations must adapt to these changes. Here are the top seven IT recruitment challenges and how Procom can help address them:

1. Too Many Vacancies: The IT industry faces a high demand for talent, with more job openings than available professionals. Procom can assist in refining job descriptions and identifying potential candidates who may need minimal training to meet your specific skill requirements. Along with Branding your company to ensure it's the most attractive role while helping share how amazing your company is with an untapped talent base.
2. Top Candidates are Passive: Many top IT professionals aren't actively seeking new opportunities. Procom's subtle approach to sourcing, built on an understanding of candidate preferences and rapport building, helps engage even the most passive candidates effectively.
3. Communication Gaps: Bridging the communication gap between recruiters and tech professionals is essential. Procom can involve its own IT experts in the early stages of the recruitment process, ensuring a smoother interaction and more precise skill matching with our RightFit Certified Recruitment model.
4. Looking in the Wrong Places: The IT market extends beyond mainstream platforms. Procom can tap into specialized forums, discussion groups, and networking sites where tech specialists congregate. Our knowledge and network can help identify hidden talent pools. You can't just post an ad and pray, which is what many of you are doing.
5. Too Much Sourcing Technology: Procom's experienced talent hunters have a strategic approach to sourcing, eliminating the need to scatter resources across multiple tools. We understand the skills and sectors you're targeting and can deploy a focused strategy to find the right candidates.
6. Top IT Talent Demands High Salaries: High-demand IT professionals command competitive salaries. Procom can assist in determining competitive compensation packages to attract and retain top talent, considering not only base salaries but also other benefits and perks.
7. Desire for Opportunity and Challenge: IT professionals seek opportunities for innovation and a dynamic work culture. Procom can help you highlight these aspects in job ads and create an environment that appeals to these candidates.

By partnering with Procom, you can navigate the complex IT recruitment landscape and build your dream IT team. You can't just post and pray. That's not working. Most likely, your hiring managers and internal recruiters don't have the time nor the expertise to find the right candidates for the role. If you aren't setting a side a budget for staffing vendors, you are fighting an uphill battle rather than riding the trolly to the top. Your competitors are using agencies. You should have a partner that truly understand how to get the people you need AND the people you want, and a partner that provides you with strategic direction to ensure your plans are successful for the future. People are your competitive advantage in today's world. Let's connect and discuss some customized options to fit your organization's specific staffing needs.

[email protected], 346-439-0625. I look forward to connecting and have an awesome week ahead!

#Inflation #ArtificialIntelligence #JobOpenings #Hiring #Staffing #JobApplicants #Candidates #Talent #HiringManagers #ContingentLabor #Recruitment #HR #AIRecruiting #FutureOfWork #TalentAcquisition #WorkforceManagement #InflationImpact #JobMarket #RecruitmentChallenges #StaffingSolutions