Herman Trend Alert: Benefits Will Return
In the highly competitive employment market of the late 1990s, companies scrambled to offer new and different employee benefits to attract the job applicants they needed in the hot economy. In response to the economic slowdown, when corporate strategy shifted from hiring to layoff, employers reduced their investment in a wide range of employee benefits. Many of those benefits will be reinstated as recruiting and retention intensify.
Herman Trend Alert: Innovation Talent Bank at Risk
America’s vital research and development is at risk; the country’s share of global degrees in the innovation fields (both baccalaureate and graduate) is declining. Long-term shifts are likely in the share of global talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Herman Trend Alert: Education Will Be the Competitive Edge
More Americans are complaining that their jobs are going to foreign nationals. Indignantly, they point to American companies giving preference to citizens of other countries — the work to be performed in the U.S. or in some other country. The accusations charge that the employers are choosing the foreign alternative to save money, that the foreigners will work more cheaply than Americans. Our research has uncovered a much different situation.
Herman Trend Alert: Executive Exits Expected
Executives are restless. Employers expect leaders at top levels to depart at a substantially faster rate over the next few years, compared to what has been seen over the past few years. Results from a recent poll conducted by The Association of Executive Search Consultants revealed that 54 percent of executives responding expect to work for seven or more employers during their career, compared to nine percent who felt that way ten years ago.
Herman Trend Alert: Are Two-Year Colleges Ready to Prepare Tomorrow’s Workforce?
Citizens are asking questions about whether community and technical colleges are prepared to educate and train the next generation of employees located throughout the U.S., these two-year institutions are charged with preparing people for jobs in the communities they serve. While quite a few of these colleges are highly efficient and effective, some fall woefully short of capacity to do the job employers expect.
Herman Trend Alert: The Shift has Begun
We have been forecasting the shift from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market in labor. Our message has been very clear that the past few years were only a pause in the demand for top talent and that the employment market would tighten up again. The shift to a seller’s market has begun.
Herman Trend Alert: Exploratory Job Seeking
Some workers are engaging in more exploratory job seeking. We’re hearing from employers that the rate of flow of resumes and query letters and calls has increased, a sign of restlessness and hopefulness on the part of unhappy workers. Sensing the improving economy and new job opportunities that will be opening, the “A players” are testing the waters, probing for possibilities.
Herman Trend Alert: The New Recruiting
Recruiting has increased across industry lines in recent weeks. The numbers are not dramatic yet, but the trend is steady. That signal is positive, compared to the fluctuating numbers we have seen recently.
Herman Trend Alert: Competitive Intelligence
A central strategy for many companies today is to push productivity higher and higher. They accomplish this objective by creatively applying technology and driving employees to perform at higher levels and work longer hours. These practices are risky, exposing the companies to an over-dependence on technology and high stress, burn-out, and dissatisfaction among employees.
Herman Trend Alert: Virtual Schools
A recent survey of 447 high schools and 345 school districts revealed that 50 percent of high schools in the U.S. currently offer online courses or are exploring future implementation of this learning technology. More than 40 percent of all public high schools are already using online courses or plan to start using them during this current school year. A curriculum for grade school children, particularly those being home-schooled, is spreading, too, but at a much slower rate.