How to find diverse talent in a skill short market

In the changing world of work, a diverse workforce is a differentiator, boosting business performance and competitiveness.

Finding diverse talent in a skill-short market can be a challenge. Now is the best time to broaden your search and look for ways to attract diverse talent pools.

New research makes it increasingly clear that companies with more diverse workforces perform better financially.

When taking a diverse approach to your hiring decisions, more people will be empowered and (re)activated in the labour force, contributing to the overall growth and sustainability of society.

Did you know that….

49 per cent of the Australian population has either been born overseas or has one or both parents who have been born overseas. With over 300 separately identified languages spoken, more than 21 per cent of Australians speak a language other than English at home*.

*2016 National Census

If you are an Australian business - does your workforce represent this diversity?  If not, you need to start asking yourself why?

Diversity and Inclusion is a large workplace area to navigate, however the benefits of creating a diverse and inclusive workplace far outweighs the challenges that may be presented when trying to establish this as the new norm in your business.  Here are some of our tips to help with creating a diverse workforce;

You can’t be what you can’t see. It is important to include a range of diverse people within your marketing materials, front line staff, website and social media.  This will show your audience that you are promoting a diverse workforce and encourage people from all backgrounds and experience to work with you.

Look for potential - it isn’t all about the university degree.  Some of the brightest people in the world are those that have had no formal qualification.  Don’t forget to look for soft skills and have upskilling and reskilling opportunities available within your business.

Be personal and flexible with policies. Managers must try to understand their employees on an individual level whenever possible. Doing so will reveal the unique needs of each employee, which ultimately provides the necessary information for a manager to personalise policies when the opportunity presents itself.

Encourage understanding of diversity. Showcase how different perspectives benefit your team dynamic. By calling attention to what makes each skill set valuable, you can drive a company culture through which co-workers understand each other better and find new perspectives.

We have developed a white paper to assist you on this journey and to provide insight into how you may start implementing this within your business.

Download it now and start today!