US Worker Deficit Report

With a growing global worker shortage and economic downturn, it’s clear that an organization’s ability to increase engagement and enhance productivity will dictate success or failure. For communicators, we’re not only tasked with launching innovative programs to support corporate objectives but we must also convey our value proposition to guarantee continued investment. In this environment, we must evolve. We need to think differently about challenges, solutions and our roles.

It’s time to work on the one minute elevator pitch

According to the US Department of Labor, retiring Baby Boomers will contribute to a shortage of 10 million workers in 2010. However, only 35% of communicators acknowledged the severity of the upcoming US worker shortage

With resource strains, companies will require more from less. It's critical for communications professionals to make the worker deficit issue a top priority. This shouldn’t be viewed as a threat...but an opportunity to position communications as a strategic partner to measurably solve real problems. What percentage of your workforce is set to retire in the next 5 – 10 years? Have you been developing a generational communications strategy? Do you know about the online communications link between the generations?

Engaged...but we just met?

Now that the projected worker deficit is a top organizational issue, communications professionals must develop meaningful engagement programs to accomplish objectives. It’s time to roll up your sleeves because it’s not going to be easy.

Professional communicators declared that there isn't one clear challenge, but rather a combination, that their organizations face in pursuing its engagement goals. Communicators indicated that while a good deal of emphasis will be placed on increasing employee productivity (29% of respondents) and retention (27% of respondents), there will also be a focus on enhancing brand and culture advocacy (23% of respondents) and improving talent search and acquisition (21% of respondents).

Two birds...maybe even four...with one stone.

The US Department of Labor recently stated that for every worker that enters the job market, three will leave. To combat this Boomer Effect, proactive communicators are developing strategies that manage their employer brand to attract, engage and retain the best talent. What initiatives are communicators planning to implement in the coming years to increase employee retention, advoacy, acquisition, and productivity? A significant majority indicated that they plan to enhance their intranets with interactive and social media tools to support collaboration and community building.

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It’s time to tap into people’s fundamental desire to declare, share and compare ideas, opinions and praise...

The US Worker Deficit Poll Summary Results have been compiled by PollStream, the leading provider of interactive engagement and community building solutions that helps large organizations engage, educate and inform employees online.

Our proprietary Poll, Quiz, Commenting, Rating and The Hive solutions are helping companies unleash the power of online dialogue and employee generated content to measurably increase engagement, productivity and retention.

If you are interested in obtaining additional information, please contact one of our Business Development Consultants: 1-866-494-4840.