CWS 3.0: June 19, 2013

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Contingent Workforce: What the Future May Hold for Europe

At our CWS Summit in Germany last month, we asked attendees their thoughts on the future of the contingent workforce in Europe. The good news is that many buyers in Europe expect to see CW programs to grow in importance, according to the resulting report, “Into the Future: Contingent Labour Trends Audience Survey.” The not so good news is that they also anticipate more legislation. Here’s more of what the near future may hold, according to the report:

  • CW programs will continue to expand geographically (from an average of 7 countries at present to 20 countries in three years)
  • CW Programs will develop in importance
  • Expect increased pay for CW specialists
  • Program managers will need to be well-versed in project and executive management, analytics skills, negotiation, procurement, legal, human resource and change management
  • Increased use of vendor management systems and recruitment process outsourcing
  • Talent shortages for engineers, linguists, blue collar and technology professionals
  • Talent shortages most prevalent in Germany followed by U.K., Netherlands, and Poland

As the war for talent heats up in Europe, companies are predicted to use more social media, graduate schemes and workforce flexibility to engage their workers and win the talent war.  Attendees at the conference also stated that increased use of outsourcing/offshoring and more remote working would become more prevalent to meet talent demands. More companies are also predicted to be using independent contractors, part-time workers, retirees and proactive employment of workers with disabilities as the gap widens between the supply of workers and demand in Europe and globally.

Continuing the theme of what to expect going forward, the overwhelming favorite at the conference was the keynote session: Towards a New Reality - A Competitiveness Outlook for 2013 and Beyond by Stéphane Garrelli. Garrelli, a professor at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), one of the world's leading business schools, and University of Lausanne, gave a frank and sometimes humorous view of the economic and business environment for 2013 and beyond with a real-world emphasis on how the world of work and the mindset of people must change to meet these new challenges.

Also an attendee favorite, in keeping with the theme of what the near future may hold, was Staffing Industry Analysts President Barry Asin’s session Into the Future: Contingent Labour Trend.