EHS OutLoud Blog

Talent Challenges Still Top of Mind

March 3, 2022

New SHRM Study shows that 61% reported developing more effective leaders is a priority.

Each year the Society for Human Resource Managers ( SHRM) issues findings on the both the current state of the workforce and the Future. On Feb. 16 they released the SHRM State of the Workplace Report 2021-2022.

What are the issues?

80% reported that maintaining employee morale and engagement is a top priority
78% said that retaining talent is an organizational priority
68% agreed that finding and recruiting talent with the necessary skills is a priority
62% said navigating COVID-19's continued impact on workforce and safety practices is a priority
61% reported developing more effective leaders/people managers is a priority

What are barriers to success?

42% said limited time or dedicated personnel
40% said employee resistance to change
39% mentioned organizational cultural norms
38% said a limited budget
37% pointed to senior leadership support/buy-in

What are the plans to address these issues?

81% intend to train people managers on their roles in supporting their organization's talent management strategy
78% plan to increase their employee headcount
77% intend to improve the soft skills (e.g., empathy, compassion, communication) of their people managers

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.