This Week's Herman Trend Alert The Consequences of Virtual Meetings

The Herman Trend Alert March 22, 2006 Shortage of Skilled Labor Spreading We have focused quite a bit of attention on the growing shortage of qualified workers in the United States. Based on our interpretation of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we anticipated a shortage of 10 Million skilled labor by 2010. We presented our case in our book, “Impending Crisis: Too Many Jobs, Too Few People.” While there have been some challenges to our forecast, many others now use our projections. Whether the actual shortfall will be 8, 10, or 14 Million, it is clear that employers find it increasingly difficult to hire and retain the people they need. In 2004, in our “Red Alert Paper,” we reported that the employment market was shifting from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market. Now, employee turnover is increasing even faster, as talented employees seek better job opportunities. The phenomenon is not limited to the United States or North America. We see these conditions developing at an alarming pace in developed---and some developing---countries around the world. This global shortage of skilled workers---educated and trained to perform the work of today and tomorrow---will affect everyone. Recent reports tell us that leading Japanese companies have begun preparing to hire next year's graduates. Their intention to recruit large numbers of new graduates is a radical change from their restrained hiring in recent years. The employment market in that country is now characterized as a “seller’s market” by the Japanese media. Hiring plans announced by employers include Toshiba’s plans to hire 1,570 new graduates, marking the first time in 13 years the electronics manufacturer has taken on more than 1,000 new graduates at once. Honda expects to hire 1,120 new graduates, its first mass recruitment in 16 years. Financial institutions also intend to employ many recent graduates. Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. plans to hire 2,350, while Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. plans to hire about 1,100. The employment situation in once-stable Japan is complicated by the tendency of more than 30 percent of young workers hired after graduation quitting within three years. The trends we have highlighted are increasingly global in perspective. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548 (PDT this and next week). BUSINESS IS PICKING UP Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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