More than half, or 59%, of executives across the world say their businesses will adopt a hybrid working model post pandemic; yet one in four believe their leaders lack the skills to manage the workforce they want to build, according to survey research from KellyOCG.

The survey also found that less than half of executives, or 49%, say they have a clear view of the optimal mix of talent required across all business areas, and 27% are unsure of what their employees want in terms of a post-Covid work environment.

Meanwhile, the survey showed that a minority of organisations are using leading-edge technologies to respond to critical issues around workforce planning and management, including monitoring productivity and efficiency (44%), managing a remote workforce (38%), and predicting skills requirements (32%).

More than half, or 55%, report that talent from underrepresented groups has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, but fewer than half (43%) say they are executing a fully developed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy for their full-time staff, and only 19% have one for contingent labour.

“Our research shows a majority of executives agree that talent has never been more important as a source of competitive advantage, yet they are ill-prepared to manage and support that talent,” said KellyOCG President Tammy Browning. “Given that we are in the midst of a “talent tsunami” – with workers leaving jobs at record levels – this is a challenge leaders must face head on.”