Are you having problems with finding people with the 'right' skills?

Have you thought about these options?

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We are still seeing a shortfall in skilled people and it does not seem to be getting that much better.? In some cases, it appears to be getting worse.

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Just before the COVID Pandemic, EngineeringUK reported that there were 169,000 skilled posts, across the engineering spectrum, that could not be filled.? The figures reported in December 2023 shows that this had increased to 173,000 (research by the Institute of Engineering and Technology), with 49% of engineering businesses experiencing difficulties in recruitment - but it is not just in the Engineering and Technology sectors that we have found shortfalls in skilled personnel.? I will provide a further example later in this article.

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So, if we can’t recruit people with the right skills, there may be other ways in which we can work around the problem:

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·???????? Firstly, due to outdated recruitment processes, many employers are not aware of the knowledge, skills and experience, currently not being utilised, that are available to them within their own organisations (how often are we told to tailor our application to the post for which we are applying).? Question:? When did you last carry out a skills audit?? Even where there is ‘skills fade’ it is likely to be more cost effective to refresh skills than to go through a recruitment process when you already have the skills available to you.

·???????? Upskilling – perhaps you have people who are in a position to learn new skills?

·???????? Reskilling – perhaps it would be more cost effective to reskill people?? This might be useful where it is easier to fill a post being left vacant by the person being reskilled than the post that they are now moving in to as a result of reskilling.

·???????? Cross-training – Is it possible for people to be cross-trained?? I have seen this in organisations in which I have worked and it would appear to provide greater flexibility in the completion of tasks on-time and within budget.? The cost of training being cheaper than recruitment.

·???????? I did say that I would provide another example where employers have found it difficult to recruit people with the right knowledge, skills and experience.? I was lucky enough to be invited into a Financial Services company who had taken on apprentices due to the fact that they were finding it difficult to recruit people with the right knowledge and experience.? What I found surprised me (from the points put forward by the apprentices):

Apprentices – I asked why they had chosen to undertake an apprenticeship rather than go to university.? The answer:? Whilst they had worked hard at school to obtain good grades, they were not motivated towards the learning as it did not provide them with clear view of how the learning could be utilised in the workplace.? For this reason, they decided that they did not wish to go down another academic route – even though they still needed to sit numerous examinations in order to qualify as a Financial Consultant.? They could see how their learning would be utilised and how they would benefit from the learning.? The downside being that, as apprentices, they were not that well paid but, as I pointed out to them, at least they are being paid and not mounting up debt.

Employer – The employer found that the apprentices were totally engaged in the learning, with their work and with the organisation and that it was a cost-effective way of filling essential posts.?

·???????? Is it possible for employers to partner with external organisations so as to gain the knowledge and skills required??? This may not be possible in all cases but I think that it is most certainly an avenue that may be open to some employers.

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This is, again, an area where the management of Human Performance, through enhancing capability, can provide cost-effective outcomes that can also enhance employee engagement and add value to all stakeholders at a time when it is hard to find the skills required through the normal paths of recruitment.

I hope that you find this helpful.