Highlights from the 2019 SIA Executive Forum

Highlights from the 2019 SIA Executive ForumHighlights from the 2019 SIA Executive ForumHighlights from the 2019 SIA Executive ForumChange, flexibility and adaptation were recurring themes at this yearsStaffing Industry AnalystsExecutive Forum held in Austin, TX Feb 25-28.If you attended, you probably know that already. And if you didnt, were happy to share some of our biggest takeaways, themes and buzz-worthy topics we heard at the staffing industrys erstauffhrungexecutive conference.Embrace change or get left behindIn his opening keynote, SIAs presidentBarry Asins message welches clear- if you dont stay ahead, youll get left behind.Our biggest threat is complacency, he said. The idea that this is how things have been in the past is how it will continue to be has to end. We have to be willing to embrace change.While he still sees perceived threats to the industry (a continued reluctance to embrace digital technology for a start), he also sees rich opportunities ahead, many of them r ooted in the skills gap plaguing the hiring industry.In any kind of market failure where supply doesnt meet demand, thats where staffing fits in. Weve got to leverage new technologies and become much more strategic. But most of all, weve got to develop leaders who are prepared to take us to the next level.As a legacy job board and long-time staffing partner thats had to reinvent itself numerous times, we know a thing or two about staying current or being left behind. Thats why we were so excitedto be able to share our latest video and search products with staffing colleagues in Austin- and even happier with the response we received.Be prepared for a recession- or even a depressionBe prepared for a recession- or even a depressionAt the SIAs Health Summit in 2007, economistAlan Bealieauaccurately predicted the recession that welches to come in 2008, so all eyes and ears were on him this year.For the next few years, he says were headed for a period of mostly prosperity, but at the end of the next decade, there could be financial upheaval.The next decade will be like another roaring 20s, he said. But in 2030, were going to have a great depression.If youre not prepared for it, it will wipe you out. If youre a millennial, you can make a fortune from it. If youre a Gen Xer, you can easily survive it. His advice to survive the coming decade (and beyond) is multifold.First, he says, youve got to embrace the future of work.Hire as if millennials are going to control the world because they are. Then decide how youll fit into that world.Youve got to adapt to the millennial world as you go forward, and youve got to educate your clients about that as well, Beaulieu says.To prepare for lean times, he suggests taking an inventory of your company and eliminate unneeded waste.Look for a basset hound in your company (something that people like, but isnt doing anything- a person, product or vertical). Put a leash on it and walk it to the farm where it can be free once more.Consid er training as a value addThe only way to successfully close the skills gap is through re-training and up-skilling. If employers arent prepared to do it, should staffing firms?Thats a question that was asked repeatedly at Executive Forum, and as Barry Asin reminded the audience in his keynote, the current state of hiring could be a boon for staffing firms- if theyre willing to shift gears and embrace change.Any kind of skill shortage presents opportunities and for staffing, and thats in upskilling and training, he said.There are companies already engaging in some type of training, but the question for staffing companies is, is it worth the investment if you can create huge pools of skilled workers that your clients want?75-375 million workers will need to switch occupations by 2028, so were going to need to think differently about how we train workers, saidJoanie Courtney, Chief Marketing Officer at Employbridge.We have training centers doing virtual reality forklift training. For u s, its not just finding better work life for candidates. Were interested in upskilling the American workforce.Decide whether to embrace the angeschlossen hiring marketplaceAnother area of disruption that some staffing firms are embracing is the online hiring marketplace and the human cloud.With the uberization of some recruitment solutions, how big of an impact will online staffing have on traditional staffing firms?The human cloud is the fastest growing part of the talent supply chain, said David Francis, SIAs Research Analyst.Its still one fifth the size of temp workers, he says, But the B2B year-over-year growth is 19%. Thats not consumer human cloud businesses like Uber, but talent suppliers like Upwork, he adds.While online staffing and the human cloud isnt going to disrupt traditional staffing immediately, if it continues to grow, forward-thinking staffing companies will figure out how to integrate these non-traditional audiences and methods.Francis says staffing firms have th ree optionslebensabschnittsgefhrte with an existing online staffing firm or startup. This is a good option if cost is a factor and a better tool might be built tomorrow, he said.Build or invest in your own sourcing tool or app. This makes sense if theres a competitive business model or if its additive to your business and you want to leapfrog to the front. Its also a good option if you have the capital like Adecco, who acquired Vettery.Do nothing and wait. This is a real option if you dont think adding online marketplace is beneficial to your business model, he said.Job boards need to keep up with consumer expectationsOn Tuesday morning, MonstersPenny Queller,Chris ChoandJonathan Beamerhad the weg to talk about the future of job boards at theIdeas in Action Breakfast.Monsters Chief Marketing Officer Jonathan Beamer kicked off the discussion with some irreverent truths about the industry in general, starting with the state of job search.The job search is dumb. What does technology al low us to do today that it didnt before? Twenty-five years, ago, we had to take it beyond the newspaper. Today we need to improve the search box.Chief Product Officer Chris Cho was able to share updates on one of Monsters newest products,SearchMonster, which will allow employers to have the latest search technology, plus integration with text, email and social, all in one easy-to-use platform.The candidate experience is rooted in data, he sad, whether its salary, commute times, or simple things like having a street address.As an industry, we need to be able to take all of these things surface them, and say come here to the candidate.We were thrilled to speak at SIAs premiere executive event, because the staffing industry is, and always will be extremely important to Monsters success.A competitor of ours is leaning out of staffing, said Penny Queller, in closing. But were leaning in, big time. We will never lean out, she added.Quellers passion is Monsters passion, and were committed to continuing to serve our staffing customers the best way we can.If youd like to start a conversation about staffing, please reach out to our GM of staffing and recruiting,Tim Robbins.