Two things bubbled up to my attention this week that got me really thinking about the dynamics of the changing workforce and its impact on HR.
First, Google officially announced that for the first time, more searches come from smartphones and tablets, than from laptops and desktops. In addition, according to the Pew Research Center, Millennials are now the single largest generation in the American workforce.
These two factors, one a technology issue and one a human capital issue, represent a stark need for organization’s alignment in ways that they recruit and retain employees.
It’s been fairly well documented that organizations are actively using social media to recruit employees. But now with greater searches coming from mobile devices, is it time to take it one step further? How are you positioning your organization to be “sold” to a potential employee that is viewing a job posting on a smart phone? How do you utilize new and upcoming social media platforms within the company?
The truth is that it doesn’t stop at recruitment. Once these employees are in your organization, how are you remaining relevant to them as an organization on the forefront of technology? Many Millennials want to bring their own devices to work and use social media on corporate networks. These are things that can affect their willingness to remain at an organization. Are you doing enough?
The easiest way to address these issues is to include Millennials in the decision making process. Ask them their opinions on how they found a job, how they receive information and what they want out of their organizational experience. You might be surprised by what you find. Then involve them in the creation or modification of corporate policies, this will instill a sense of ownership in the process.
The world is getting younger and more mobile, it’s an inevitable reality and you need to ensure that your organization is prepared for this generation’s workforce needs.
