A number of Canadian companies still struggle to attract and retain high-potential and critically skilled employees who are needed to increase the companies’ global competitiveness, according to a new survey by Towers Watson.
The Towers Watson Global Talent Management and Rewards Survey found that 61% of Canadian respondents cite problems attracting critical-skill employees, while just over 40% are having difficulty attracting high-potential talent and 35% are finding it hard to attract top-performing workers.
And, more than 30% of respondents also reported difficulty retaining top-performing employees and those with critical skills and high potential.
“The demand for the best talent is as strong as ever, especially given a challenging economy and ongoing growth in global competition. However, many employers are not taking advantages of opportunities to attract, retain and engage high-value employees by offering a work environment and total rewards program that are most important to them,” said Ofelia Isabel, Towers Watson’s Canadian leader for talent and rewards.
Offerings versus wants
When it comes to total rewards, employers are missing the mark with their offerings. The survey found that employees are more focused on competitive base pay and job security while emphasizing other items such as challenging work and the organization’s reputation as a good employer.