Monday, June 28, 2010

Future of Talent Management Survey from Mercer

Anticipating greater emphasis on talent management and competition for key talent, employers are planning to reshape their talent programs as the economy shifts out of the recessionary period. More than half of employers surveyed indicated their organization has either emerged from the recession and is in growth mode (15%), or is emerging from the recession and preparing for growth (37%). Employers are planning for program changes in:


• Leadership training (88%)

• Workforce training (85%)

• Employee engagement (85%)

• Recruiting (80%)

• Retention (80%)

• Rewards (76%)

• Performance management (76%).

Employers expect talent management to grow in importance. Half (51%) rate it as a top priority at their organization today, but 76% expect it to be a top priority within the next three to five years. In addition, virtually all employers (97%) anticipate an increase in competition over the next three to five years for the key talent their organizations need to succeed; 39% expect some increase in competition, while far more — 58% — expect a significant increase in competition. When asked to express their confidence in being able to address a range of 10 key talent challenges, most organizations said they are most confident in their ability to link employee performance to business goals (88%) and to understand the key roles and workforce segments that drive business success (86%). Respondents were asked to identify their organizations' top three talent management priorities over the next three to five years. The top response, from among 14 choices, was leadership succession, followed by leadership training/development, overall succession planning, key talent/high potentials, workforce planning and employee engagement. Organizations also weighed in on whether their current employee value propositions would attract the workforce needed to meet future business requirements. Nearly three-quarters (72%) are somewhat confident in their current value propositions; just 19% said they are very confident and 9% are not at all confident.