Looking for ways to make your business more successful in the new year?

Take a look at your staffing strategies!

No matter what industry you're in, tight labor markets, increasing regulation and an unpredictable economy make it tough to be an employer.

Intelligent use of staffing can make things simpler, safer and more cost-effective. This article contains practical solutions to four of the biggest workforce challenges today's organizations face, based on a recent survey of 500 HR professionals and hiring managers:

Challenge 1: Attract specialized talent in tight markets
HR and hiring managers list sales & marketing, creative, IT, industrial and medical positions as "extremely difficult" to fill.

After peaking in 2009, the unemployment rate has slowly, but steadily, crept downward. Across the country, more people are getting back to work -- which is great! But as talent pools in certain positions and markets dry up, it becomes tougher to attract specialized talent.

Here are a few ways your staffing partner can help:

• Proactive recruitment solutions. Staffing firms continually grow their networks, build their talent pools and pursue passive candidates. By sourcing talent well in advance of your actual needs, agencies can ensure timely access to qualified individuals.


• Flexible staffing solutions. Your agency can supply highly skilled temporary staff to meet demand fluctuations without adding to your permanent headcount. Access specialized skill sets just when you need them to complete special projects or train your internal team.

Challenge 2: Retain your best people
Turnover is the single biggest reason employers are hiring.

With more job opportunities available, and fewer qualified people to fill them, you're at greater risk of losing top performers to competitors. To compound the problem, traditional methods are not as effective as they once were in retaining great people.

Your staffing partner can help:

• Create a better match. Experts in recruiting and interviewing, a staffing firm can help you hire the right person -- someone whose skills, interests, personality and career goals align with your organization and its culture. You get an employee who's more likely to succeed on the job and stay working for you, longer.


• Reduce factors contributing to turnover. If your employees are overworked or stressed out, they're more likely to head out the door. Bring in qualified temporaries to minimize overtime and provide the support your team needs.


• Staff high-turnover positions cost-effectively. Some job functions come with inherently high turnover rates -- causing high direct replacement costs, project delays, morale problems, quality issues and reduced productivity. Staff these positions with temporary employees to alleviate the expense and stress you incur by continually finding replacements.

Challenge 3: Grow your team
78 percent of HR and hiring managers said that they plan to hire within the next six months.

The good news? Hiring freezes are over and business is picking up.

The bad news? Talent shortages threaten your ability to fill open jobs. Furthermore, with a bad hire costing between three and seven times that person's salary, you can't afford to make mistakes. Your staffing partner can help you:

• Find the best employees. As mentioned above, staffing firms continually recruit ahead of market demand to ensure quick access to the best people -- even in tight talent markets. Rigorous screening ensures candidates not only possess the skills and experience you require, but also have the personality traits to thrive on the job.


• Control costs and increase efficiency. Advanced recruiting technology and economies of scale can shorten your time-to-hire (limiting the cost of position vacancy) and ultimately lower your average cost-per-hire.


• Increase focus. Direct placement services eliminate the time and expense of hiring activities. This minimizes the disruption to your business, so you're free to focus on other important priorities.


• Reduce hiring risks. With direct hire services, you only pay a fee if you hire a referred candidate -- plus, most staffing agencies provide replacement guarantees to minimize your risk. And if you prefer to try a candidate on the job before extending an offer for employment, a temporary-to-hire option might be right for you.

Challenge 4: Save money on benefits expenses
65 percent of hiring and HR managers cite healthcare as their number one cost concern.

Continued uncertainty surrounding the Affordable Care Act, coupled with benefits costs that average 42.3 percent in excess of payroll expenses*, make healthcare a leading cost concern for employers.

Healthcare is a big expense. But, it also presents a big opportunity to save money, by using temporary employees to boost your short-term capacity. Temporary workers remain on a staffing agency's payroll, so the employment agency is responsible for providing their healthcare benefits.

Regulations permitting, your staffing provider can help you cost-effectively manage benefits expense:

• If your headcount hovers around 50 full-time employees, contingent or contract employees may be a less expensive way to get work done and manage growth.


• If you are a large employer, temporary employees may still offer cost advantages over direct hires. Specifically, a staffing firm can spread the cost of benefits over a larger base of employees.

The American Staffing Association also recommends further protecting yourself by drafting a benefits plan that clearly and explicitly excludes staffing firm employees.

How can we help you staff smarter in 2015?
Using staffing services to maximum advantage requires careful planning with a partner you can trust.

To develop the best solution for your organization, we invite you to schedule a free workforce consultation with us. Together we can assess your needs, brainstorm options and design smart strategies to help you overcome whatever workforce or hiring challenges you face.

* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics