This prediction comes from NCA’s recent Navigating the Future research project, which surveyed Delphi panelist experts to forecast upcoming industry trends and offer expertise. Its findings reveal that with numerous obstacles such as the state of the national and local economies, a rapidly changing workforce and others, clubs must innovate and adapt to today’s new labor market challenges if they are to succeed in recruiting and retaining successful personnel.
To help combat these problems and other staffing issues, Navigating the Future provides clubs expert recommendations and insight. Ninety percent of the Delphi panel believes the workforce will become increasingly diverse. To adjust, one industry expert suggested that clubs “adapt to having multiple generations of employees from ‘traditionals’ and Boomers to ‘linksters/screeners.’ All are motivated differently.” Clubs should also consider new marketing tactics to appeal to the country’s changing demographics, establishing a larger candidate pool as well as offering perspective employees more incentive to join the industry.
As one would assume, the Great Recession has taken its toll on the nonprofit sector creating tremendous staffing challenges for employers. The most pressing has been hiring qualified employees within limited budget constraints. According to a recent Nonprofit HR Solutions survey, more than 85 percent of nonprofit leaders called this issue “significantly” or “somewhat” challenging. Further, 78 percent experienced difficulty maintaining salary budgets against decreasing revenues, and 83 percent of surveyed nonprofits experienced hardships finding time to recruit and interview candidates.
Although the economy has shown signs of life, nonprofit organizations are still concerned about employee turnover. “As the economy continues to improve, I think that it will be more difficult to recruit and retain quality staff … good staff may look elsewhere for better pay and recognition,” says Nonprofit HR Solutions survey participant Janee Hanzlick, associate director of SAFEHOME Inc. Making matters worse for management, today’s workforce expects employers to offer flexible schedules and a more personalized work experience. As a result, many nonprofits must make sound decisions to satisfy their staffing needs.
Clubs should consider raising wages and offering innovative benefits to keep current employees and attract new ones. According to the Delphi panelists, better pay and pensions will be necessary to recruit and keep top talent; although, recruiting, retaining and compensating personnel to make the industry more attractive will be the “number one strategic threat” to successful club operations. Possible alternatives include using part-time staff, but in the end, organizations that solve this “talent equation” will determine which clubs struggle versus those that thrive.
This forecast may paint a worrisome picture for clubs that are not ready to change traditional staffing ways. Despite some recent upward economic trends, employers will need to work even harder to retain and recruit talented individuals; however, by investing in current employees and adapting to new demographics and working world realities, clubs can keep pace with the competitive and changing workforce.