Change has become a constant thing, whether you consider that statement to be true or not, it's happening - just ask an HR professional. In this blog, we decided to discuss some of the major trends that have shaped the recruitment sector during 2022, whilst also mentioning the ones that will continue to trend in years to come.
Most people would agree that 2020 brought unprecedented events and changes that have continued up until now. Back in 2020, most businesses had no warning of the extreme workforce changes that were to come, and they had no choice but to adapt quickly. People also thought that things would return to "normal". However, in 2021, we learned that this is now the new normal. Forced change meant that there was no time to plan, budgets became strained, and the results were unpredictable.
The good news is that those unprecedented events forced unprecedented innovation. The following six trends we discuss were extremely overdue and were deemed as challenging to implement. However, the results that they produced had the power to completely reinvent how the recruitment sector thrived during this last year, and how it can continue to thrive in the future.
Top Trends
Employee experience - Most of the trends from 2022 help to reinvent HR and the recruitment sector, however, none of them work without a focus on putting your employees first. The pandemic illustrated how fragile life can be and how it caused workers to focus on the things that are truly the most important to their quality of life.
People are business investments not overhead. Unfortunately, many businesses didn't reach the logical conclusion that when their candidates become scarce, employers need to adapt their mindsets. In 2021, "The Great Resignation" significantly changed the dynamic in favour of candidates and employees around the world. Employers have now realised that attracting and retaining workers requires an investment in their employee’s well-being vs. their work-life balance. 68% of senior HR leaders responded in a survey that employee well-being and their mental health has become a top priority.
This has also been shown in the increased focus of "soft" skills that have been long underrated by employers. From front line workers to senior leaders, businesses have started to recognise how critical interpersonal skills are to the collective success of their teams and organisations.
This last year has become all about the people.
Technology - Technology has become a vital trend in this sector. HR is called upon to analyse, strategise, predict trends, whilst also having to understand not just how but also why these things are trending.
This is only manageable if the sector can automate, eliminate, or outsource low value administrative functions by using innovative technology.
Cloud-based - The days of on-site systems have gone. Using a cloud-based system will ensure on-demand, anywhere access, reduced server issues and loss of data.
AI - Artificial intelligence will enhance processes like recruiting, candidate engagement, on-demand access, chatbots, smart forms, and other technology.
RPA - Robotic Process Automation provides the much-needed automation of the administrative tasks so that teams can begin to focus on strategy.
Hi-tech doesn't simply mean the system used to manage people data - workers are still going to need training on fast-breaking technology and the sector will need to be involved in the learning in several ways.
Learning Opportunities - Today, candidates and employees choose companies that they want to work for based on the opportunities for growth and professional development, especially when it's mobile and tech friendly - which is why learning needs to be aimed towards their unique needs and various learning styles.
On-demand - AI can provide you with on-demand feedback, information, and access.
Optimisation - it's important to consider all devices that can be used for this factor, whether that's mobile devices, tablets, etc.
Simple Micro-learning - short bursts of learning that can be followed by time-spaced reminders is a great to use for retention.
Corporate Social Responsibility - CSR has always been extremely important to employees, along with the quality of their personal life, and they are now increasingly holding employers responsible for their contribution - or lack of - to corporate social responsibility.
Social activism is on the rise across the world, as younger workers are demanding that their employers take responsibility to actively contribute to societal improvement - it's also these young workers who are more likely to walk away from an organisation that don't.
Equal Opportunity to Equity - Diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity are all words that have meaning and getting it right is a business imperative. These words have played a role in including underrepresented populations. However, the focus in 2022 and beyond will be achieving true equity.
Equity is not an initiative, program, or a policy that HR need to draft and manage - achieving equity for all employees is simply a part of an organisation, its internal value system, and its value proposition. Not only is it the right thing to do, it's 43% more likely to increase profits according to a Forbes report.
Human Capital - The final trend is the focus on human capital. The drastic changes from the pandemic have changed the way employers think about their own workforce. Business leaders have seen this trend coming, but workers have been driving the change.
Viewing workers as human capital and business assets or investments changes the focus of the entire business. Investing in initiatives and technology that will always develop workers and providing a valuable work experience comes as a competitive advantage.
In conclusion, we can see how the market is evolving to a hiring process where the candidate experience is essential for talent acquisition and retention. Here at Talented Recruitment Group, we believe that trends are an indicator of where the future is heading as opposed to fads which aren't destined for longevity. The need for change is responsible for some of the best innovations that make work much more enjoyable.
In this blog post, we discussed some of the trends that we have seen during 2022 and how they'll continue to be used in the future. Let us know about any trends you've noticed or think should be adopted into the industry for the next year!