Where Have All the Employees Gone?
We are at the convergence of many forces shaping labor markets today. As leaders of organizations it is imperative to understand the many currents swirling around your companies as you try to right the ship and get and keep great workers.
As I stated in my Linked In article of January 14, 2025, we are about to be hit by a retirement tsunami. Declining birthrates in the United States and globally are negatively impacting the number of workers available to replace Baby Boomers as they retire.
A 2024 Gallup Poll indicates the lowest level of employee satisfaction with their employer. Only 17.9% of employees are happy with where they work. That is an incredible statistic! If you are reading this article and thinking the majority of people at your company are happy working for you, you may need to rethink your view of reality.
The level of trust workers have in business has plummeted. The Edelman Trust Barometer Report, where over 200,000 employees were surveyed internationally indicates:
87% of Americans believe CEO pay is unfair and 67% believe the rich do not pay their fair share of taxes
68% of workers believe CEO’s lie to their employees and exaggerate or misstate business information
63% worry about discrimination, racism or prejudice in their workplace and demand civility at work
40% of employees approve of hostile activism, including violence, property damage, and attacks online
Why is trust in employers so low? Why is worker satisfaction at an all-time low?
Employees feel they are being left out.
They are concerned about AI and are afraid it will take their jobs. They want to be prepared for the work of the future. The need to develop employees is greater than it has ever been.
Looking for a roadmap for how to overcome all of these challenges to get and keep great employees? Get a copy of Josh Bersin’s book, “Irresistible: The Seven Secrets of the World’s Most Enduring, Employee-Focused organizations”.
The book guides the reader through how to shift from old mindsets and ways of working to new approaches and it fully illustrates the seven secrets:
1. Teams, not hierarchy.
2. Work, not jobs.
3. Coach, not boss.
4. Culture, not rules.
5. Growth, not promotion.
6. Purpose, not profits.
7. Employee experience, not output.
Get a copy of “Irresistible” and discover critical ways to engage employees in this new world of work.