The 2009 CIPD survey shows that despite increased labour supply, the key resourcing challenge has remained a lack of necessary specialist skills (73%). In response to this, the majority of organisations (56%) are focussing on retaining rather than recruiting talent, and the most favoured action to address this has been 'offering increased learning and development opportunities' (47%).

However, the survey showed that only 58% of employers report having a formal resourcing strategy, meaning that recruitment and retention programmes are not in many cases aligned to business strategy.

Also interesting to note that as many as seventy-two per cent of respondents think employers will use the downturn as an opportunity to get rid of poor performers and bring about culture change.  It looks as though 2009 will continue to be a turbulent year.

To maximise the chances of improving retention, consider using Recrion's Employee Engagement Barometer which has received praise from the Employee Enagagement Forum:

"I saw your Barometer mentioned in a Google News Alert on Employee Engagement. It looks like a very solid approach to understanding employees and the organization". David Zinger, Employee Engagement Forum Founder, Winnipeg, Canada

For more information contact Katherine Wiid on 01780 484910.

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