Rethinking Talent: Recruiting for the Workforce Ahead
Your biggest risk isn’t your balance sheet. It’s your people strategy.
The Perennial Challenge of Recruiting
Why Recruiting Needs a New Playbook
Today’s labor market is a paradox: some sectors are facing shortages while others are grappling with layoffs, and skills gaps continue to widen. Macroeconomic shifts, evolving demographics, and disruptive technologies are rapidly redefining what it means to build a resilient workforce.
And with recent government realignment and shutdowns, 2.28 million federal employees are now considering private sector opportunities.
The urgency is clear. Navigating this workforce paradox requires more than adaptation; it demands strategic foresight and actionable intelligence. SHRM turns workforce chaos into clarity, equipping business leaders with the data, insight, and strategy needed to make human capital their ultimate competitive edge.
Today’s Workforce Won’t Win Tomorrow — CEOs & CHROs Know It.
Key Data & Trends
66%
of Executives feel the current environment is less than good
56%
HR professionals rate their organization's recruiting efforts as effective
61%
recruiting professionals face challenges due to a lack of qualified candidates for open roles
30%
recruiting executives are aligning recruitment with broader business strategy
Overlaying This Shift: Federal Workforce Dynamics
With federal workforce reductions rampant, HR and business leaders must prepare for ripple effects across the labor market. How will these layoffs impact talent availability, hiring trends, and economic stability? What strategies can organizations adopt to navigate uncertainty and maintain a competitive edge?
With large-scale layoffs starting this month in the federal government, SHRM’s senior labor economist breaks down the federal civilian workforce—by occupation, location, age, length of service, and education level—and assesses the layoffs' implications on the broader labor market.
With federal workforce reductions rampant, HR and business leaders must prepare for ripple effects across the labor market. How will these layoffs impact talent availability, hiring trends, and economic stability? What strategies can organizations adopt to navigate uncertainty and maintain a competitive edge?
In this episode of the People + Strategy podcast, SHRM senior labor economist Justin Ladner joins SHRM CHRO Jim Link to examine the impact and consequences of the Trump administration’s efforts to dramatically shrink the size of the federal workforce. Learn how they foresee corporate recruiting strategies shifting.
President Trump’s new workforce strategy aims to expand work-based learning, connect Americans to in-demand jobs, and prepare workers for the AI-driven economy.
Outpace Change: 4 Strategies to Future-Proof Your Workforce
You can’t build the future with yesterday’s workforce intelligence. SHRM helps you lead with insight, not instinct: diagnosing workforce risks before they hit the bottom line, quantifying culture’s impact on performance, and aligning talent with strategy in real time. Because the next disruption won’t come from your competitors — it will come from inside your workforce.
Member OnlyStruggling to attract and hire top talent?
Ask a SHRM Knowledge Advisor for practical solutions to streamline recruiting and reduce costs.
1. Prioritize Data and Technology
With complex hiring economics, HR leaders must balance costs and outcomes. Guided by SHRM’s expertise, integrate AI and data-driven insights to streamline recruitment, reduce turnover, and align hiring with business goals.
Learn how to use AI prompts to create clear, accurate, and engaging job ads that attract top talent and optimize HR efficiency.
Written for recruiters, this book outlines useful technologies and digital capabilities and how to use them to positively impact your organization's recruitment activities.
Explore the potential impact of the 2025 government shutdown on businesses and workers, including key challenges and long-term effects.
SHRM Labor Force Snapshot: The Role of Women in The U.S. Labor Force. This snapshot offers insights aimed at understanding the role and importance of women in the U.S. labor force, both historically and in the present day. Download now to gain valuable insights you need to make informed decisions and reach out to this underutilized talent pool.
This snapshot offers insights aimed at understanding the growing role and importance of those ages 65 years old and over in the U.S. labor force, both historically and in the present day. Download now to gain valuable insights you need to make informed decisions and reach out to this untapped talent pool.
Master the intersection of artificial intelligence and human ingenuity to lead innovation and equip yourself with practical, ethical, and strategic tools to implement AI solutions with confidence.
2. Adopt a Skills-First Mindset
Prioritize proven capabilities to quickly address talent gaps and boost workforce agility. Partnering with SHRM ensures your organization’s readiness for ongoing market and technology shifts.
In this episode of the People + Strategy podcast, Susan Schmidt Winchester, former CHRO and author of Healing at Work, introduces a game-changing framework for smarter hiring, succession planning, and talent alignment. Schmidt Winchester provides actionable strategies to elevate your hiring processes and create lasting organizational impact.
Learn the key steps of job analysis to effectively define and evaluate roles. Enhance your HR practices with our expert insights.
The Skills Action Planner translates your assessment results into a tailored roadmap for progress — aligned with your organization’s unique goals, challenges, and opportunities.
Find a vendor to help you recruit for the skills your organization needs.
Unlock your organization’s full potential by leading the shift to skills-first talent strategies. The SHRM Foundation Skills First Specialty Credential gives you the tools to hire, develop, and advance employees based on what they can do.
3. Seek Untapped Talent
Discovering untapped talent is key to adapting to labor market fluctuations and skills gaps. SHRM helps you reach new talent pipelines, foster agility, and build resilient teams ready for change.
Discover effective strategies for employers to bridge the skills gap, including tapping into underemployed groups and revising hiring practices to secure top talent.
Learn how rethinking hiring systems can unlock untapped talent and help build a stronger, more resilient, and future-ready workforce.
Accessing untapped talent involves actively seeking candidates from underrepresented or overlooked groups, such as individuals with disabilities, veterans, military spouses, individuals with criminal histories, and disengaged youth.
Due to frequent moves around the country and globe, military spouses face very high rates of unemployment and underemployment. Even so, they are a source of untapped talent for employers. New research from SHRM, the SHRM Foundation, and USAA sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in hiring military spouses.
Workers with disabilities are an untapped resource for employers; recruiting them can bring new perspectives into the workplace.
Companies open to giving military spouses and veterans the flexibility they need to succeed can benefit from their unique skill sets to grow their businesses.
People with criminal records—especially those formerly incarcerated—face enormous barriers to employment. Often eager to work, this untapped pool of workers can bring great value to employers.
Opportunity youth are people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor in the workforce. SHRM researchers found that 96% of companies that partner with organizations to recruit young people in this demographic report positive results.
Unlock your organization’s competitive edge by mastering the art and science of attracting, engaging, and hiring exceptional talent. Design inclusive strategies, navigate global hiring complexities, and lead seamless virtual recruitment with ease.
4. Rethink Your Global Talent Strategy
As the demand for skilled talent outpaces supply, global hiring is becoming a strategic imperative. Understanding visa options and immigration shifts can make — or break — your recruitment plans.
The H-1B visa remains the go-to for specialized talent, but new policy changes — including a proposed $100,000 application fee — are reshaping how employers plan. The J-1 visa, meanwhile, offers a flexible, lower-cost route for internships, training, and short-term exchange programs.
Facing H-1B visa challenges? Discover how the J-1 visa offers a strategic alternative for hiring global talent. Compare requirements, costs, and benefits.
Executive action is shifting fast. Learn how HR can maintain compliance and culture while also preparing for potential changes in the H-1B program.
Navigating employment immigration is no longer optional—it’s a strategic imperative. The SHRM U.S. Employment Immigration Specialty Credential empowers you to manage visas, verification, and regulatory compliance with confidence.
Equip HR Teams with AI Skills for Recruitment and Beyond
42% of HR professionals cite insufficient knowledge or training as their biggest barrier to using AI effectively.
Build the confidence and capability your HR team needs to leverage AI — in recruitment, and across all HR functions. SHRM’s AI Enablement for HR program offers live virtual training, readiness assessments, practical guides, and resources to help your team automate processes, unlock deeper insights, and gain a competitive edge.
FEATURED SHRM RESEARCH
The Real Story Behind the U.S. Labor Shortage
SHRM’s latest data brief on understanding the U.S. labor shortage found that as of July 2025, 32.7% of job openings could not be filled by unemployed individuals whose most recent employment was in the same job group.
In tight markets, most organizations chase the same visible talent. Instead, HR leaders can seek those who are all too often overlooked to bridge talent and skills gaps.
Access this essential research to:
Benchmark your organization’s challenges against national trends.
Rethink your sourcing, upskilling, and retention strategies with data-driven clarity.
Prepare for the “new normal” in workforce supply and demand.
Newest Member Resources
Assess your recruiting practices with this quiz designed for HR pros. Learn how structured interviews and AI-powered tools can support inclusive hiring efforts.
Workforce planning helps organizations analyze staffing needs, address skill gaps, and align talent strategies with business goals for long-term success.
Get answers to questions on President Donald Trump's H-1B visa overhaul: $100,000 filing fee, lottery changes, and enforcement updates. Stay informed on immigration policy shifts.
Get guidance on political affiliation questions during the recruitment process to reduce the potential risk of liability and lifestyle discrimination claims.
Five Forces Shaping the Future of Talent Acquisition
- Talent Economics
- AI & Tech
- Talent Market
- Skills-First
- Talent Pool
The New Talent Economics
Today’s hiring decisions are driven by powerful economic forces — from interest rates and inflation to shifting labor supply and demand. Local market trends and sector dynamics add another layer of complexity, while global competition for talent raises the stakes.
For HR leaders, staying ahead means anticipating these changes and adapting strategies to attract the best people, wherever they are.
Discover five vital HR strategies to tackle economic uncertainty. Learn how to adapt, innovate, and build resilience for workforce planning amid disruption.
Inflation rose again in August, moving further from the Federal Reserve's goal of 2% and providing evidence that tariffs are putting upward pressure on prices.
SHRM’s 2025 Talent Trends survey indicates fierce competition for top talent, explores AI's role in recruiting, and shows how flexibility attracts candidates.
Workforce Planning: The Future of Work
Workforce planning isn’t just about filling seats — it’s about shaping the future. This course empowers you to lead strategic workforce planning that drives agility, reduces risk, and fuels long-term growth.
Hiring with AI and Technology
AI and technology are transforming how HR leaders approach hiring — from boosting efficiency and supporting compliance to tackling bias in decision-making. As automation accelerates, balancing smart tools with a positive candidate experience is key.
Staying ahead means exploring the future of recruiting tech stacks and leveraging innovation to build stronger, more agile teams.
Discover five vital HR strategies to tackle economic uncertainty. Learn how to adapt, innovate, and build resilience for workforce planning amid disruption.
Unlock the power of generative AI in HR. Learn how to craft effective prompts and streamline processes to boost efficiency, creativity, and decision-making.
AI-generated resumes are flooding recruiters. Learn how structured AI interviews cut through the noise, boost fairness, and help HR teams hire smarter at scale.
AI + HI Specialty Credential
Master the intersection of artificial intelligence and human ingenuity to lead innovation and equip yourself with practical, ethical, and strategic tools to implement AI solutions with confidence.
Resilience in a Tight Talent Market
Labor shortages are reshaping the talent landscape, driven by demographic shifts and sector-specific gaps. HR leaders are responding with creative sourcing strategies and tapping into global hiring pools to find the right skills. Retention is now a critical part of recruiting — keeping top talent is as important as finding it.
Discover five vital HR strategies to tackle economic uncertainty. Learn how to adapt, innovate, and build resilience for workforce planning amid disruption.
Unlock the power of generative AI in HR. Learn how to craft effective prompts and streamline processes to boost efficiency, creativity, and decision-making.
This snapshot offers insights aimed at understanding the growing role and importance of those ages 65 years old and over in the U.S. labor force, both historically and in the present day. Download now to gain valuable insights you need to make informed decisions and reach out to this untapped talent pool.
Global Hiring: Complying with U.S. Visa Requirements
Hiring global talent takes more than a good interview—it takes compliance. This course helps you navigate U.S. visa requirements with confidence, from understanding visa types to managing audits and employment verification.
Skills-First: The Talent Advantage
Skills are emerging as the new currency in talent acquisition, with a clear shift toward skills-based hiring over traditional degrees. HR leaders are investing in upskilling, reskilling, and building robust internal talent pipelines to stay competitive.
Proactively mapping future skill needs ensures your organization is ready for whatever comes next.
The ultimate HR toolkit for skills-based hiring. Streamline recruitment, decrease costs and turnover, and access tools and strategies to future-proof your workforce.
Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential
Unlock your organization’s competitive edge by mastering the art and science of attracting, engaging, and hiring exceptional talent. Design inclusive strategies, navigate global hiring complexities, and lead seamless virtual recruitment with ease.
Unlocking the Full Talent Pool
Unlocking new sources of talent involves welcoming older workers through flexible opportunities and engaging groups often overlooked — such as veterans and people who were previously incarcerated.
Embedding inclusion and diversity (I&D) into recruiting practices closes skills gaps, driving innovation, productivity, and business value.
Schneider Electric North America’s HR leader shares how to expand your talent pipeline.
Learn how to hire and retain experienced older workers. Discover proven strategies to employ and support this workforce and create a more experienced, well-rounded staff.
Over 70 million Americans have incarceration records that make finding work after serving time extremely difficult. In today’s tight labor market, overlooking this vital talent pool could be a costly mistake. Learn how to recognize the skills justice-involved candidates bring, navigate fair and comprehensive background checks, and reimagine recruitment and retention practices to match these often-neglected workers to the right roles at your organization.
Amid today’s talent shortages, older workers remain one of the most overlooked sources of skill and experience. Learn how HR teams can overcome biases, engage older talent, and reimagine recruitment, retention, and development strategies for a rapidly growing segment of the workforce.
Assess your recruiting practices with this quiz designed for HR pros. Learn how structured interviews and AI-powered tools can support inclusive hiring efforts.
Older workers, for the purpose of this research report, are people ages 65 and older who are currently employed part-time (i.e., less than 35 hours per week) or full-time (i.e., 35 or more hours per week) for an organization or are self-employed part-time or full-time.
SHRM Labor Force Snapshot: People with Disabilities in the U.S. Labor Force. This snapshot offers insights aimed at understanding the role and importance of people with disabilities in the U.S. labor force, both historically and in the present day. Download now to gain valuable insights you need to make informed decisions and reach out to this underutilized talent pool.
Talent Acquisition: Inclusion & Diversity in the Talent Acquisition Space
Strengthen your hiring strategy with inclusive, bias-aware practices that deliver real impact. This course gives you actionable tools to recruit diverse talent, reduce bias, and drive meaningful inclusion throughout your talent acquisition process—all in just 1 hour.
Evaluate and Elevate Your Team’s Recruitment Capabilities
The Applied Skills & Knowledge Assessment tool measures your HR team’s skills against essential competencies global HR pros need, including Talent Acquisition.
Unlock the full potential of your HR function with data-driven insights.
SHRM Events: Sharpen Your Recruitment Strategy
April 19 - 22, 2026
Dallas, TX or virtual
Winning the future starts with winning talent.
Learn how to adapt your talent strategy, build skills-first pipelines, and stay ahead of workforce shifts at the premier talent event of the year.
March 9 - 10, 2026
San Francisco, CA or virtual
Artificial Intelligence plus Human Intelligence = ROI for the workforce of tomorrow.
Dive deep into how organizations are blending AI tools with human potential to redesign jobs, upskill workers, and unlock innovation.
June 16 - 19, 2026
Orlando, FL or virtual
The largest stage for the future of work.
From AI disruption to workforce agility, SHRM’s Annual Conference brings together global leaders to reimagine work and strengthen HR’s role in business strategy.
Webinars – Free for SHRM Members!
Member-Only Weekly
Effective Recruiting Strategies for Today’s Talent Market
Members watch free.
Not a Member? Pay to Watch.
Member-Only Weekly
Untapped Talent: Leveraging Older Workers for Business Growth
Members watch free.
Not a Member? Pay to Watch.
Member-Only Weekly
Finding the Right Talent Through a Cohesive Hiring Strategy
Members watch free.
Not a Member? Pay to Watch.
Not a SHRM Member Yet? Here’s Why It Matters
Workforce disruption isn’t slowing down — and neither can your strategy. SHRM members don’t just stay informed; they stay ahead.
As a member, you’ll gain:
Exclusive data & insights to make confident workforce decisions
Proven tools & frameworks for strategic workforce planning
Practical case studies & playbooks to turn disruption into ROI
A global community of HR leaders to benchmark, learn, and lead with confidence
The new era of workforce planning is here. SHRM Membership is your competitive advantage.
Join SHRM Today and ensure your workforce strategy delivers measurable impact — for your people, your business, and your bottom line.
Multiply Your Impact: Bring SHRM Membership to Your Entire HR Team
As a SHRM member, you already know the value of having cutting-edge research, actionable tools, and a powerful professional network at your fingertips. Imagine the results if your entire HR team was equipped with the same resources, insights, and strategic capabilities.
With a SHRM Corporate Membership, you can:
Prove HR’s collective value by leveraging SHRM’s data, benchmarks, and case studies to connect people initiatives to P&L outcomes.
Expand your team’s impact through specialty credentials, toolkits, and events that help design business-aligned HR strategies together.
Stay ahead as a team with the latest insights into workforce trends, compliance shifts, and innovative HR practices.
Engage your whole team with a global HR community that shares real-world solutions and strategies to accelerate organizational growth.