Global Talent Shortage, Retention Top List of HR Challenges in 2013

In its Top Five Global Employer Rewards Priorities Survey , Deloitte Consulting LLP has underlined what many industry followers have known for some time: HR professionals are concerned about attracting and retaining top talent despite consistently high unemployment and an improving job market.

The report found that HR leaders across the globe have made the so-called talent squeeze their top priority. In the Americas, 24 percent of respondents reported the talent challenge as their top priority over the next three years. The Europe, Middle East, and African bloc (28 percent) and Asia-Pacific (24 percent) also cite finding, motivating, and retaining talent as the most important challenge of the near future.

“Given all of the sharply different economic, political and geographic challenges in the regions we surveyed, we found real parallels in terms of what is weighing heavily on employers,” said David Lusk , principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP and co-author of the report. “Attracting and retaining top talent is a universal theme.”

The top five global priorities for 2013 were found to include:

• The implementation of rewards programs that attract, motivate, and retain employees;

• A clear alignment of the rewards strategy with overall business strategy and brand;

• Motivating the workforce when financial incentives are not forthcoming;

• Providing benefits to employees; and

• Demonstrating sufficient ROI for reward expenditures.