SI Review: January/February 2015

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Editor’s Letter

It’s a new kind of workplace, nothing like I’ve seen before. Many of the ways of working that we have taken for granted are changing. People no longer work their life- times for one company, 9-5 is an anachronism, office locales are disappearing, working from home is not passé, Elance-oDesk workers are a necessary part of many company projects and Skype is a way of life. It’s a world of work driven by intense technological innovation. Do we know what lies ahead? Some trends maybe, but many others we can only imagine.

We at Staffing Industry Analysts are proud to document the change. The 24th Staffing Industry Executive Forum, held March 2015 in Orlando, is about a new era in staffing. Our cover story in this issue features world-of-work guru Jacob Morgan — a keynote speaker at Orlando — on future-proofing organizations. Morgan talks about the impact on the staffing industry, what we can do to add value. Hint: it’s not just about paying your workers well.

Add growing talent shortages, expanding skill gaps, rising client expectations and the proliferation of passive candidates to industry dynamics. It’s a complicated work milieu. And in the midst of these shifts, smart staffing executives are waking up to the fact they need a strong team to deliver value, writes Leslie Stevens Huffman. She reports they hope to counter these developments by increasing the knowledge and tenure of their internal recruiting teams.

Scott Wintrip echoes the theme of adapting to provide value. Whether you like it or not, your staffing firm and its services are a commodity, Wintrip explains. But there is a way agencies can get beyond being in a commoditized business. A must-read for those who want to elevate their offering.

Providing value notwithstanding, what are the trends for the industry this year? Craig Johnson reveals what’s hot. As the world of work changes, the shift in the ratio of nonemployees to employees is dramatic. Nonemployees — agency temporary workers, free- lancers and others — can represent anywhere from 30% to 50% of some firms’ total workforces.

These stories along with all our usual columns and departments represent how you can best function in this new workplace. Come find us at Executive Forum Orlando and tell us what you think. My colleagues and I would love to discuss the world of work with you.

Your Voice

Please send us your questions or letters commenting on any articles/staffing issues to editor@staffingindustry.com. We welcome your queries and feedback. Staffing Industry Review editors will do their best to provide the most up-to-date information.