Recruiters may hold the key to solving the leadership shortage according to healthcare recruitment firm Inivo, following the publication of research showing that employers are struggling to hire candidates with leadership capabilities, reports onrec.com.

In a poll of HR executives conducted by Saba, only 36% considered leadership to be a strength of their organisation, while 30% said they were finding it difficult to recruit candidates suitable for a senior position. Only 39% of organisations surveyed have development programmes in place, and only 15% of employees receive training to better prepare them for leadership duties. 

In the midst of four million baby boomers retiring globally every year, employers are finding it increasingly difficult to find senior managers. 

Steve O’Brien, Operations Director of Inivo Healthcare Talent, said: “At its heart, this is a problem of supply and demand. More leaders are retiring, and this pool is not being replenished through current methods. Clearly many organisations have not put the right initiatives in place to build leaders of the future. Leadership is an immensely underrated tool in any business; it’s just a matter of finding that initial spark and developing it.”

“Recruitment firms are now placing more staff than at our peak pre-recession levels, so are uniquely placed to identify and build on leadership potential. An increasing number of employers are now turning to recruitment agencies to find candidates. With an extensive database and expert knowledge of the job market, recruiters are an excellent option if a business doesn’t have the internal strength to replace senior leaders,” he concluded.