2017 was an exciting year for the world of talent acquisition especially in the areas of candidate experience, diversity, and removing unconscious bias from the hiring process and workplace.
In 2018, hiring volume is predicted to increase with 61% of recruiters expecting to hire more people.
With the booming tech economy and unemployment at a 17-year low, the war for talent continues in tech, healthcare, e-commerce, and professional services – employees remain in the driver seat.
If you plan to enter the workforce or change jobs in 2018, here are some trends to watch.
2018 Top Trends:
Diversity and Inclusivity
Diversity will continue to play a prominent role in 2018 as companies strive to create more inclusive cultures. Many organizations are investing in technology to improve diversity hiring processes including software that helps identify the exclusionary language in job descriptions and AI to screen resumes and reduce unconscious bias.
Some states are adopting regulations that promote equal pay in the workforce and limiting what questions employers can ask candidates about current or past salary information. These laws are already in effect In California and New York.
The best employers will create a more diverse workforce not because it is a trend, but because they recognize the value of being inclusive.
Candidate Experience
Recruiting is becoming a digital experience as candidates come to expect convenience and mobile contact in the hiring process.
2018 will be the year of the candidate as the consumer. Expect to see the modernization of mobile job applications, real-time information about job application status or next steps in the process, and improved transparency in the application and interview process.
Changing Workforce
Employees are demanding new careers and work models. More companies will offer the option to work from home to help retain talented people and boost overall job satisfaction.
Organizational dynamics will continue to change as the need to accommodate new working styles and more distributed networks of talent increase.
More companies will offer the option to work from home to help retain talented people and boost overall job satisfaction.
The Gig Economy will continue to impact how we work; companies will hire more contractors and consultants to address the talent shortage and skills gap.
Artificial Intelligence & Automation Tools
According to Entelo’s 2018 Recruiting Trends Report; 62% of companies plan to spend on AI-powered recruiting software. 86% plan to spend on intelligent sourcing software, 30% plan to spend on chatbots and 26% will spend on digitized interviews.
Automation holds tremendous potential for recruiting. Specifically, to help talent teams better connect with people and spend more time on the human elements of recruiting like engaging with candidates, building relationships, and improving the overall candidate experience.
AI and bots will have a significant impact on how people work, and the skills required. Gartner predicts that by 2030, 50% of high-performing employees will regularly and seamlessly redistribute workloads across personalized portfolios of talent bots.
Learning & Development
Learning and development is a top priority for HR in 2018, expect to see more digital training offered across a range of mobile platforms to ensure employees are adaptable to changes in their role, organization or industry.
Experts predict that within ten years, technology will enable “competency to replace pedigree.” Traditional college-based degrees (the pedigree) will no longer be used to determine candidate capabilities, which will instead be acquired and validated by new education providers that focus on “the last mile in training” – the skills most relevant for job performance. Source: http://tatech.org/job-board-journalist-heard-tatech-fall-congress/
Technology
Technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate in the areas of cognitive, artificial intelligence, and social collaboration.
These technological innovations are reshaping the workforce. With new developments in natural language processing, we can text with a chatbot and get answers to questions in real-time or leverage AI-powered assistants to schedule meetings or retrieve the information we need on request.
Technology is also enabling better interaction between recruiters and candidates by automating elements of talent acquisition. Recruiters won’t be replaced but, instead, empowered to focus on the areas they’re most passionate about like building meaningful relationships and helping people find their next great career opportunity.
Also Trending
- Healthcare changes are likely in the new year, expect to see more competitive benefits packages offered by employers as a way to attract and retain employees.
- Workplace well-being trends are on the rise to ensure employees are healthier in the New Year.
- Employee experience is a top priority; companies are faced with creating environments that make people want to come to work in 2018.
- Texting candidates will become mainstream in recruitment just like InMail’s are today.
- We will see increased competition in the recruitment market; Facebook and Google are making a play in the recruiting advertising space. Facebook added a jobs tab (plus pay-per-click ads to reach the right audiences), and Google recently launched a search engine specifically for recruiting.
NEW RECRUITMENT LAWS
Salary information:
- Employers in California and New York can no longer ask candidates about current or past salary information. More states are expected to pass similar regulations soon.
Criminal history:
- As of January 2018, employers will not be able to inquire about a candidate’s criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been extended. Known as the “ban the box” law.
2018 OUTLOOK
As 2017 ends, Glassdoor reported that there are a record 6.1 million open jobs in the United States. The labor market is healthy heading into 2018, but average wages remain flat for too many.
The U.S. economy experienced a landmark year, despite significant hurricanes, fires, and political changes.
- 9 million new jobs were added in 2017
- Stock markets reached a record high.
- The unemployment rate plummeted to a 17-year low
The tech sector continues to boom with no sign of slowing down. 2018 will provide many new opportunities for professional growth and career advancement.
Based on Indeed’s Employer Outlook 2018:
- 61% employers expect to hire more people in 2018 than they did in 2017.
- 56% of employers are hiring to support business growth
- 31% are recruiting for a specific skill
- 13% are replacing lost staff.
Click here to read the full brief: 2018 Hiring Trends
Follow Rachel on Twitter @stellarhirep or connect with her on LinkedIn.
