Meeting salary demands, talent shortages and
extended hiring cycles are top concerns among SMBs.
MENLO
PARK, Calif., Nov. 13,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Research from global talent
solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half reveals the top
recruiting obstacles small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are facing
now and in the months ahead. The research offers valuable insights
to help SMBs compete for top talent in a complex and evolving
hiring landscape.
According to a survey of more than 1,700 hiring managers at
small (20-99 employees) and midsize (100-999 employees) companies,
the greatest hiring challenges facing SMBs include:
- Salary pressure: When asked to rank their greatest
hiring challenges between now and the end of 2025, nearly half of
SMB hiring managers cited meeting candidates' salary expectations.
The newly-released 2025 Robert Half Salary Guide can help managers
research and better align on salaries for open roles.
- A skilled talent shortage: While many SMBs will be
looking to add talent to their teams, more than 4 in 10 managers
surveyed named finding candidates with the required skills among
their top hiring challenges between now and the end of next
year.
- Costly hiring delays: Nearly 4 in 10 hiring managers at
SMBs said that losing a top candidate to a competitor due to a slow
hiring process was a primary concern. Prolonged hiring cycles can
also lead to heavier workloads, burnout and turnover of existing
staff. In fact, nearly half of SMB hiring managers are experiencing
higher rates of turnover because of how long it takes to hire for
open positions.
- Finding the right workplace culture match: Of the
managers surveyed, more than 4 in 10 anticipate struggling to find
candidates who align with their company culture.
"Small and midsize businesses face unique challenges when it
comes to attracting and retaining top talent," said Dawn Fay, operational president of Robert Half. "In today's market where workers
are being selective about their next opportunity, these employers
need to be creative, agile and efficient in their hiring practices
to compete effectively and build strong, resilient teams."
Robert Half outlines four
strategies for SMBs to successfully navigate today's hiring
market:
- Take inventory — and think beyond salary. Promote your
company's strengths and differentiators — such as corporate
culture and values, flexible work options, a generous paid time off
policy, and career advancement opportunities — on your
website, within job descriptions and on social media.
- Hire quickly. Since SMBs typically have fewer
stakeholders involved in the hiring process and face less red tape
than larger companies, you can often make decisions and extend
offers more quickly.
- Be willing to bend on requirements. Consider options to
train and upskill high-potential candidates, even if they don't
possess the ideal years of experience or exact qualifications.
Additionally, leverage contract workers to help bridge skills gaps
on your team.
- Partner with a recruiter. A specialized recruiter can
market your company to job seekers and help identify the right
candidate for the job.
For more information about how Robert
Half can assist your business in navigating the hiring
landscape, visit www.roberthalf.com.
About the Survey Research
The survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by
an independent research firm in June
2024. It includes online survey responses from more than
1,700 managers with hiring responsibilities in finance and
accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal,
administrative and customer support, and human resources at
companies with 20 or more employees in the United States.
About Robert
Half
Robert Half
(NYSE: RHI) is the world's first and largest specialized talent
solutions and business consulting firm, connecting highly skilled
job seekers with rewarding opportunities at great companies. We
offer contract talent and permanent placement solutions in the
fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and
creative, legal, and administrative and customer support, and we
also provide executive search services. Robert Half is the parent company of
Protiviti®, a global consulting firm that delivers
internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions.
In the past 12 months, Robert Half,
including Protiviti, has been named one of the
Fortune® Most Admired Companies™ and 100 Best
Companies to Work For and a Forbes Best Employer for Diversity.
Explore talent solutions, research and insights at
roberthalf.com.
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SOURCE Robert Half
