Times are tough. On one hand, employees worldwide are bracing themselves for the recession, on the other, employees are embracing quiet quitting, ultimately adding to the numbers contributing to the Big Quit. At the intersection of this dichotomy are HR teams, hiring managers, and leadership teams, trying to keep their heads above water to retain talent. In light of recent changes in the workplace, attributed mostly to the pandemic and how we view work and workplaces, recruiters are now exploring new approaches to discovering talent and headhunting. Recruitment trends in 2023 will look more employee-centric with a keen focus on inclusion and diversity initiatives.
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How has the workplace changed in the last few years?
In an attempt to make workplaces gender-balanced, many companies around the world are actively creating roles for women and encouraging women to apply. While there has been progress, we’ve still got a long way to go.
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Annual Report [July, 2020 – June, 2021], the labour force participation rate shows a stark disparity. In both rural+urban areas, males make up 57.5% of participation while females only account for 25.1%.
But, not all hope is lost. Grant Thorton’s Women in Business 2021 report showed that Latin America recorded a whooping jump to 36% of women in senior management roles, recovering from a steep dip in 2019. Organisations must leverage this window of opportunity to fling open the door to diversity.
Along with a fight against gender-based discrimination in the workplace, another encouraging shift is that of DEI initiatives that allow employees to bring their authentic selves to work every day–regardless of their caste, ethnicity, age, and who they identify as. As there is a growing awareness of employee rights, organisations are diligently creating and respecting boundaries–personal and professional.
Millennials and Gen Z are now changing the landscape of corporate social responsibility in the workplace. A Submittable report, Millennials, Gen Z, and the Rising Demand for Corporate Social Responsibility shows that 53% of the respondents say that having a job in which they can make an impact contributes to their happiness. 35% would even go as far as accepting a 15% pay cut to work for a company committed to CSR activities.
Remote and flexible work options are now taking precedence with 65% of respondents wanting full-time remote roles, 32% keen on a hybrid work model, and a staggering 97% desiring some form of remote work, according to a FlexJobs survey. All of these changes only signal one thing. There has to be a seismic shift in recruiting and hiring decisions.
5 Recruitment Trends in 2023
1. Transparency in wages: The World Economic Forum’s Gender Report 2021 shows that on average, women make 20% less than their male counterparts. To bridge this gap, companies are now choosing to pay equal salaries to men and women, and also be upfront about it. This helps management and employees build trust amongst each other and enables an open line of communication. Transparent initiatives such as this help employees align with the company’s objectives, vision, and business goals.
2. Leveraging social media: As Gen Z enters the workforce, they bring with them the arsenal of the century–the undeniable power of social media. They may be quick to make a judgement and brand a company as outdated if they find a lack of a social media presence. On the other hand, HR teams actively follow a candidate’s journey and lifestyle on social media to see if they would be a culture fit. For many job seekers, social media platforms are the primary source to hunt for jobs. Reviews and ratings concerning a company’s work ethic and approval of the CEO or leadership also influence a candidate’s decision in considering a role.
3. Fortifying employee retention programs: Employees are prioritising mental and physical well–being, now more than ever, and are happy to quit toxic work environments in pursuit of greener pastures. FlexJobs surveyed over 2000 people between February and March, 2022 and found that 30% were considering quitting, while 25% quit in the past six months before the survey. Surprisingly, 68% of respondents quit without securing a job elsewhere and relied on their savings to make ends meet. Finding exceptional talent is hard and retaining them is even harder. Organisations all over the world are now improving their rewards and recognition initiatives, in monetary benefits, or other forms of acknowledgement. It keeps employees motivated and makes them more productive.
4. Upskilling for internal hiring: Great Learning’s report on Upskilling Outlook In India 2022 shows that 79% of the professionals intend to upskill, including freshers and that 62% feel that going back to the office won’t affect their plans to upskill. Upskilling the existing workforce is an excellent way to fill the skills gap. By hiring within the organisation, employees have a chance to progress in their careers, learn new skills, and it also improves employee engagement and retention.
5. Automation in hiring: With technology taking on a shape-shifting role every day and our dependence on it, it is no surprise that many companies are automating several hiring processes. With the advent of 5G, recruitment and hiring processes will take lesser time and become more streamlined. Recruiting automation helps automate tasks to increase recruiter productivity and reduce the cost-per-hire. This, in turn, helps manage and improve the talent pool of the organisation. Candidate sourcing, candidate assessment and screening, setting up interviews, and applicant progress tracking software are all boons of the automation world for recruiters.
Finding your next great hire isn’t just about finding the right talent. It’s a combination of moving with the times, creating safe workspaces, and placing one foot in the future. As recruitment trends in 2023 pick up speed, HR teams and hiring managers must gear up for a season of hiring like never before.
References:
- Why recruitment will look different in 2023 and how to prepare for it | Frontline Recruitment | November 21, 2022
- Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Annual Report [July, 2020 – June, 2021] | Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation | June 14, 2022
- Women in business 2021 | Grant Thorton
- Remote Work Statistics & Trends: The Latest in Remote Work | FlexJobs
- Great Resignation: Survey Finds 1 in 3 Are Considering Quitting Their Jobs | FlexJobs
- Upskilling Outlook In India 2022 | Great Learning
- 2023 Hiring & Recruiting Trends | Forbes | November 30, 2022
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