Manpower Inc. Talent Shortage Survey Reveals 40% of
Employers Worldwide Are Struggling to Find Qualified Job Candidates
Sales Professionals, Engineers and Technicians
Top the 'Most Wanted' List
Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) surveyed nearly
33,000 employers across 23 countries and territories in late January to
determine the extent to which talent shortages are impacting today's labor
markets. The survey results, released today, revealed that 40 percent of
employers worldwide are having difficulty filling positions due to the
lack of suitable talent available in their markets.
Employers having the most difficulty
finding the right people to fill jobs are those in Mexico (78% reporting
shortages), Canada (66%) and Japan (58%). The talent shortage appears to
be least problematic in India, where only 13 percent of employers reported
having difficulty filling positions.
"The talent shortage is becoming a reality
for a larger number of employers around the world, and this is only going
to get worse over the next several decades, as demographic shifts and
other factors continue to reduce the number of people who are willing and
able to participate in the workforce," said Jeffrey A. Joerres, Chairman &
CEO of Manpower Inc. "The shortages are most acute across North America at
this point, with employers in Europe and Asia currently feeling much less
pressure to compete for employees."
Top 10 Jobs Employers Have Difficulty
Filling
The top 10 jobs that employers are having
difficulty filling across the 23 countries and territories surveyed are
(ranked in order):
1. Sales Representatives
2. Engineers
3. Technicians (primarily production/operations, engineering and
maintenance)
4. Production Operators
5. Skilled Manual Trades (primarily carpenters, welders and plumbers)
6. IT Staff (primarily programmers/developers)
7. Administrative Assistants/Personal Assistants
8. Drivers
9. Accountants
10. Management/Executives
"Across North America and Asia, the top
three talent shortages are identical -- sales representatives rank number
one, followed by engineers and technicians," said Joerres. "Employers are
telling us that they are not just looking for bodies to fill sales jobs,
they want experienced sales people who know their respective industries
and can drive revenues."
"As employers compete for talent in these
hot job categories, we will see salaries and compensation escalate. Anyone
who is currently searching for a new job or a different career path should
seriously consider the results of this survey, and set their sights on
getting the education and training required to pursue one of these
promising career paths," Joerres advised.
Today's survey announcement coincides with
the publication of a new Manpower White Paper, "Confronting the Coming
Talent Crunch: What's Next?" The white paper highlights the growing talent
shortages around the world and what businesses, government and individuals
should be doing to adapt their human resource strategies. Visit
www.manpower.com/ResearchCenter for a copy of the white paper.
