A selection of the latest news, research and stories from the world of HR, talent, learning and organisational development as selected by the TJ editorial team.
Talent shortages are significant business challenge – Fosway Group
New research from the Fosway Group, in partnership with UNLEASH, reveals the biggest HR challenges facing employers is access to talent. 95% of research respondents see the availability of talent as their most significant business challenge, with the research showing that HR priorities have realigned to address skills shortages. This year, reskilling and upskilling, employee retention, and facilitating digital transformation have surged up HR’s strategic priority list compared to 2021.
Rebalancing adult education – RSA & Ufi VocTech Trust
The UK has one of the highest rates of under-qualified workers among OECD countries, and workers most impacted by forces of automation and the pandemic are often those furthest away from accessing lifelong learning opportunities. Andy Haldane, chief executive of the RSA said, “[W]hen we only consider the economic or industrial need for skills, we divorce the notion of skills from the people learning them.” The survey revealed that personal interest and personal development was twice as important to respondents as employment or professional development.
From jargon to emoji, the evolution of workplace communication styles – Slack
New data shows that employees working in hybrid environment are opting for casual chats and expressive reacji that mimic human conversation. Ultimately, remote and hybrid workers are moving away from ‘business speak’ and this in turn brings a greater sense of belonging and may level the playing field for women and minor groups looking to progress to leadership positions.
Quarterly UK Business Outlook – Accenture & S&P Global
This quarterly report found that UK business confidence fell by -10% to its lowest level in at least 13 years in October but was stronger than other European markets. This compares with net balances of confidence of +28% in June and +56% in February. However, other headline findings revealed that: Despite tough economic conditions, the business outlook remained net positive – 41% of firms expected output to rise vs nearly one-quarter (23%) that project a decline.
Global Blueprint for Belonging and Diversity – Workday
New research has found that despite a UK economic recession, investment in DE&I is still strong and 62% of UK HR professionals and business leaders are planning on increasing investment DE&I roles within their organisation compared to 2021.