While the job market appears to be cooling from the historically hot market of the pandemic era, many employers are still feverishly searching for workers.

With nearly 8.2 million job openings and only 7.2 million unemployed workers in June, companies across most sectors of the economy continue to grapple with shortages that increase pressure on existing employees, reduce productivity and jeopardize the ability to fulfill orders promptly.

Some employers looking to fill existing positions and considering future growth are looking internationally to fill gaps in the US labor market.

While this still largely untapped source of employees is attractive, staffing companies often face challenges when confronted with the complexities of the process. Instead, those firms can seek out specialized immigration-based recruitment partners to build a strategic approach that brings qualified workers to employers struggling to find them.

What should a staffing firm prioritize when searching for the right partner? Here are four essentials:

Legal Expertise

The right partner brings invaluable knowledge and legal expertise, saving time and ensuring compliance with immigration laws and regulations.

Staffing firms can streamline the process and guarantee adherence to rules by working with a recruitment partner that has a deep understanding of immigration policies, extensive experience and a proven track record.

Marketplace Insights

Employers and workers are grappling with substantial regulatory and fiscal challenges. Small businesses are particularly concerned about inflation, labor quality and costs.

Staying informed about industry trends and labor laws is crucial for providing accurate guidance to the organization.

A valuable recruitment partner develops that insight, in part, by building a diverse network of contacts across various sectors and industries.

With that understanding, a partner should be skilled at developing custom strategies aligned with an organization’s specific needs and proficient in communicating the organization’s unique value proposition to potential candidates.

Data Use

The right staffing partner understands how critical data-driven recruitment is for companies looking to attract top talent and enhance their hiring processes.

This approach involves analyzing diverse data sources to make informed decisions at every stage, leading to cost savings and continuous improvement while eliminating bias in recruitment.

To spend the budget wisely, it is essential to monitor the source of hire to identify the most effective recruiting channels for attracting highly qualified candidates.

Worker Understanding

In addition to being essential to addressing skills gaps, international talent brings the value of diverse viewpoints to the workplace.

Staffing partners who understand this and other nuances to this set of employees are all the more effective in setting their clients up for success.

An organization’s support services like cultural orientation programs, language training and access to community resources are vital for foreign workers’ successful integration into the workforce.

By providing comprehensive support, businesses can create an inclusive work environment that values diversity, meets workforce demands, fosters meaningful connections, increases retention and boosts productivity.

The Takeaways

The labor shortage in the US has pointed staffing firms and their clients to international recruitment as a viable solution.

Navigating the complexities of hiring foreign workers requires a multifaceted approach that includes legal expertise, marketplace insights, data use and a unique understanding of the workers. Staffing firms that consider these attributes in a recruitment partner will deliver top-notch results for their clients.