Survey: Number One Employer Concern? Talent Shortage
A shortage of skilled and talented workers has become the most pressing concern among employers, supplanting the perennial leading problem, rising cost of health care, according to the 14th annual Top Five Total Rewards Priorities survey conducted by Deloitte Consulting LLP and the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists.
Nearly three-quarters of the 413 U.S. human resources professionals surveyed cited talent as their top concern. Meanwhile, 71 percent identified cost containment of health care as a top five concern this year, dropping from 80 percent last year. Other leading issues are the willingness of employees to pay for an increasing portion of benefit plan coverage and to manage their own reward budget (58 percent), clear alignment of total rewards strategy with business strategy and brand (56 percent), and demonstrating appropriate return on investment for reward expenditures (42 percent).