Total Workforce Strategy: The Future of Talent with Martin Thomas

The way businesses think about talent is changing. In a recent podcast episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Martin Thomas , Director at Workforce Strategy and Partner at Talent Intelligence Collective. Martin is a pioneer in total workforce strategy, bringing decades of experience from companies like Philips, BBC, AIG, and BT Group.

In our discussion, we tackled one of the most pressing questions in talent management today: How can organizations move beyond traditional hiring and think more strategically about their total workforce?

Key Takeaways from the Conversation

?? Total Workforce vs. Total Talent

Many companies talk about total talent, which often refers to integrating permanent and contingent workforce management. However, Martin makes a crucial distinction: total workforce strategy goes beyond just hiring; it involves rethinking how work gets done. This includes automation, AI, outsourcing, and redeploying existing talent effectively.

?? The Importance of Strategic Workforce Planning

Most organizations struggle with predicting their future talent needs. Martin emphasized that workforce planning should be proactive, not reactive. He stressed that companies should move away from relying on spreadsheets and instead leverage AI-driven tools to map out skill gaps and future workforce demands.

?? Skills-Based Organizations: The Hidden Talent Within

A major theme in our discussion was internal mobility and skills-based hiring. Organizations often focus too much on external hiring when the best talent might already be in-house. By identifying transferable skills and reskilling employees, businesses can reduce hiring costs and improve workforce agility.

?? AI & Workforce Transformation

Artificial Intelligence is not just about automation—it’s about augmenting human potential. Martin highlighted how AI is helping businesses analyze skill sets, improve workforce planning, and streamline recruitment. However, he also stressed the importance of human oversight in AI-driven hiring to ensure ethical and effective decision-making.

?? Talent Availability & Global Workforce Trends

With shrinking labor markets in Western economies, companies need to rethink where they source talent. Martin pointed out that emerging markets like Nigeria and India are set to become key talent hubs in the coming decades. Organizations that leverage a global workforce strategy will have a significant competitive advantage.

?? HR & Procurement Alignment

One of the biggest challenges in workforce management is the disconnect between HR and procurement. Martin argued that a successful total workforce strategy requires breaking down silos between these functions, allowing businesses to optimize both permanent and contingent hiring strategies.

The Future of Work: What’s Next?

Martin left us with a thought-provoking idea: The companies that win in the future will be those that embrace a strategic, skills-first approach to workforce planning.

The days of rigid, job-based hiring are fading. Instead, businesses must build flexible, dynamic workforce models that leverage AI, internal talent, and global workforce trends.

?? Are you thinking strategically about your workforce? Share your thoughts in the comments!

?? Listen to the full podcast episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfS0fOppV04

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