Why the Future of Recruiting Talent May be Where You Least Expect It

Why a Global, Remote Reach is Critical to Success

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According to the most recent data, the best future professions are primarily in STEM-related areas.   STEM (science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)  jobs are projected to grow by 9% between now and 2029 – much higher than non-stem jobs. And software development is projected to grow by 22%. And, even with the recent spate of layoffs, the hiring of skilled technical labor remains robust.

Finding and hiring STEM professionals is harder and harder. The supply of talent in the United States and Europe is limited by both demographics and education trends. With the shrinking population in western countries, including Australia and New Zealand as well as China and Japan, it will get increasingly harder.

Demographics
The working population in all western countries is aging and as seen during the pandemic, early retirement is more frequent, and birthrates are low.  This leaves organizations with fewer experienced workers and diminishing prospects for future hires.

Keeping a population stable requires a birthrate of around 2.1. In the United States, the birth rate is currently at 1.8, the same as in China which is also experiencing a declining population. The overall projections are that the total world population continue to grow but very slowly from its current 8 billion people to around 10 billion by 2058. The countries where growth will occur and that have higher than replacement birthrates are located primarily in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.  These include India, Sri Lanka Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Israel, Iraq, Kuwait, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, and Ecuador.

Countries such as France, are trying to slow this by increasing the retirement age but are meeting significant political backlash. Others are promoting immigration by making it easier for skilled workers to obtain a visa or permanent residency. But these are stopgap measures and will not have a significant impact in the long term.

Education
Most western countries have striven to increase the number of students enrolled in STEM classes but no matter how much we encourage students to study STEM, the shrinking number of students will limit success.  Brazil and other South American countries are working to increase interest in STEM, but it is a long and challenging process that requires long-term political and economic support.

The best solution may be to tap the young, creative, and energetic STEM professionals in countries where STEM is already popular and growing. will require that organizations and recruiters reach a wider and far more diverse global population of workers.

Countries with growing birthrates, a young population, and education system that encourages and rewards STEM learning include India, Singapore, Tunisia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

The Future
Here are some tips on how to deal with this future.

#1. Encourage broader thinking
Try to influence hiring managers and leadership to broaden their reach. Share the facts and data about populations and STEM education.  Try to help them realize that recruiting locally or in western countries will become harder and more competitive.

#2. Promote remote work
Urge hiring managers to hire a remote engineer or technical person for a project.  Expand pandemic-type thinking and celebrate any past successes with remote work. Perhaps get a hiring manager to visit the country where the remote worker lives. The more connection there is with the hiring manager the greater the likelihood that the worker will be successful and engaged.

#3. Target one or two countries with strong STEM education and a growing population
Focus on geography where you have the expertise or can hire expertise. Develop a relationship, remotely or in person, with a professor or teacher who can identify potential recruits. This is the beginning of building a talent community.

#3. Begin to develop global networks of potential candidates.
Using these relationships, hire recruiters who understand the culture and education system in the country or countries you have targeted. Craft marketing materials and promote the opportunities you have. Showcase success stories and the benefits of working with your firm.

#4. Develop remote internships
Many projects could use an extra hand and students are often looking for a project for their classwork. By adding an intern, you not only provide extra help to your project team, but you will also add more people to your network through the recommendations and friends of the intern.  

#5. Encourage your firm to open local offices in chosen countries
As a final potential action, try and encourage your firm to open a satellite office in your targeted country. These can be a place for both collaborative work and networking.

While the approach may seem far-fetched and not really necessary, I can assure you that the future will require an imaginative, creative, and global approach to recruiting, especially for those with STEM skills. Our current education system and population are not adequate to the challenge and recruiting is way too parochial and narrow to remain effective.

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