Spotlight on Investigo
As they always have been, skilled candidates are in high demand in 2024, but with the number of active candidates on the market increasing, supply has balanced versus demand. Although more than 80% of hiring managers say that it’s still a challenge to find skilled candidates, they’re also less flexible on the required skills, with the result that candidates have less control over the process than they did a couple of years ago. Some of the best talent is still passive and companies will need to reassess their approach to hiring to tap into this talent pool.
The hybrid working model is here to stay, but it’s changing. We’re seeing more and more companies asking their people to come back to the office, which has created a challenge for both candidates and clients – but also an opportunity if they can meet in the middle. Companies offering remote working will benefit from a wider pool of talent while candidates will have fewer opportunities if they insist on remaining remote.
In an environment where it’s harder to get hold of the right talent, we’re not just seeing organizations tap into the passive candidate market for C-suite professionals and niche tech skills, but also for lower skilled jobs. Could this new approach signal a democratization of the recruitment process? Demand for hiring will be strong and competitive in 2024 – whether it reaches the levels of 2022 remains to be seen – and companies with a speedy and slick interview process will have an advantage.
Creating a diverse workforce will not only continue but will be a key priority for many employers. Companies are increasingly recognizing that a diverse workforce brings various perspectives, personal experiences, ideas, and multicultural backgrounds that enrich the workplace and are a key driver to an innovative environment.
Technology is increasingly being utilized to address our biggest concerns right now, with artificial intelligence taking a front row seat. As the uses and applications of AI continue to expand almost by the week, we’re seeing AI become democratized and available to a wider user base.
AI is an increasingly important part of TRiSM (trust, risk and security management) as organizations seek effective and reliable auditing and monitoring tools, as well as strong governance frameworks covering transparency, data management and security requirements. As cyber attacks become more sophisticated, we’re also seeing a focus on continuous threat exposure management to help identify and reduce cyber threats.
AI-augmented software development is helping businesses quickly develop more reliable, effective and cost-efficient solutions by automating reusable components with machine learning.
The rise of sustainable technology will only continue as organizations strive to be more sustainable, whether it’s in helping them offset carbonization or monitor non-financial risk. Data will become increasingly important as organizations look to make more informed business decisions and offer a fully personalized and adaptive user experience for their customers. This has seen a rise in intelligent applications, which use historical and real-time data to make predictions and suggestions, that we expect to see continue into 2024.
The move to the cloud, and in particular, industry cloud platforms, continues to be popular. Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) skillsets are particularly in demand. There’s also increased demand across DevOps, with more organizations looking to platform engineering to make life easier for their developers.
As the hiring market becomes more competitive, organizations will have to look in new places for the talent they need and their increased focus on DEI is certainly a step in the right direction. Being less insistent that their people return to the office will also help, although there’s also an onus on jobseekers to yield a little in their determination to work remotely.
Data and tech is where a lot of the action will be this year and we’ve carefully positioned our business to help our clients find the talent to transform, grow and protect their businesses.
