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Recently, Manpower, an international staffing firm, released the results of its 2007 Talent Shortage Survey. The survey revealed that forty-one percent of participating employers around the world believe that a talent shortage is to blame for their difficulty in filling key positions. Manpower surveyed nearly 37,000 employers in 27 countries and territories and found that Costa Rica (93%), Mexico (82%), New Zealand (62%), Australia (61%), and Japan (61%) reported the greatest difficulty finding talented candidates for key positions, while India (9%), Ireland (17%), the Netherlands (17%) and China (19%) are enjoying a relative cornucopia of talent. The U.S. is in the middle of the pack, with 41% of employers reporting difficulty finding talent.

The survey’s most surprising finding is that the digerati, the sexy lot that seem to be making all of the money (if Google, newspapers, blogs, and television are to be believed), did not even make the top 10. Willy Loman, not Bill Gates, tops the wish-list of employers around the world. Eight countries, including the United States, reported that sales representative positions are the number one most difficult to fill. And, employers in twenty-six of the 27 participating countries listed the sales positions in their top 10 most difficult to fill.

Globally, the top 10 most difficult to fill positions are:

1. Sales Representatives
2. Skilled Manual Trades (including electricians, bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, welders and other workers with specialized skills)
3. Technicians (primarily production/operations, engineering or maintenance)
4. Engineers
5. Accounting & Finance Positions
6. Laborers
7. Production Operators
8. Drivers
9. Management/Executives
10. Machinists/Machine Operators

Participating U.S. employers reported their top 10 most difficult to fill positions as follows:

1. Sales Representatives
2. Teachers
3. Mechanics
4. Technicians
5. Management
6. Truck Drivers-Freight
7. Truck Drivers-Delivery
8. Accountants
9. Laborers
10. Machine Operators

Also surprising is the fact that only the U.S., India, Japan and South Africa are struggling to fill teaching positions; and the fact that, despite widespread reports of talent shortages in the medical and allied health field, employers in only four countries (France, Ireland, Switzerland, and Taiwan) reported difficulty in filling such positions.

So, how might a talented worker capitalize on these findings?

First, understand that this survey, while one of the largest and most reliable of its kind, is only indicative or representative of what employers in participating countries believe. Not every employer has these same needs or is experiencing the same difficulties. If your profession, or one in which you are interested, did not make the list, don’t despair; there are still employers out there in search of talent in other fields, and if you have specialized talent, extensive experience and/or a post-secondary degree, you are likely in high demand in spite of the Manpower survey findings.

Next, if your profession is on the list, know that this survey may indicate a “sellers’ market” in your field meaning you may be able to network or otherwise find your way to a better-paying, higher-level position either with your current employer or with a competitor. If you’re not already out there mingling and socializing with others in your field, or with people who work for companies for whom you would like to work, get out there! Join professional associations, attend conferences, join LinkedIn or MeetUp, join community or civic organizations sponsored by companies for whom you’d like to work (You never know when you’ll be swinging a hammer for a good cause and find yourself next to someone who will refer you when a position opens up).

The survey’s findings also reveal a huge opportunity for workers willing to work abroad. Not surprisingly, employers from 15 countries reported a need for talented managers and executives. This represents a great opportunity for talented and ambitious middle managers seeking their next step. Of course, taking advantage of this opportunity will likely require that you be a rather experienced manager with a specialized skill set who is ready for a BIG challenge, and that you be more than a little familiar with both the business and social culture of the country into which you will expatriate. Speaking the language wouldn’t hurt either.
If all of this sounds like a privilege reserved for the chosen few, think again. China needs designers, New Zealand needs printers and flooring installers, Ireland needs nurses and the UK needs cooks and chefs (badly). Hundreds of Americans relocate every year to foreign countries to study, follow a foreign-born spouse, to find a better political climate or to immerse themselves in a culture they’ve always loved from afar. In fact, over 4 million Americans now live abroad. English-speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada (I know English isn’t the official language) are American favorites. If you happen to possess the skills needed to fill hard-to-fill positions, you may be eligible to work abroad.

Finally, if you are considering a career change, or simply trying to decide whether to seek further education, the survey’s findings provide a great opportunity to consider whether the career to which you would like to change or the degree or certificate you are considering obtaining is in demand.

RESOURCES

Read the 2007 Manpower Talent Shortage Survey Results

If you’re considering working abroad:

• Visit the U.S. State Department Website
• Contact Ministries of Labor, Departments of Labor and/or Departments of State to learn visa requirements
• Review the country’s tourism websites
• Visit countries to which you might consider relocating
• Connect online with other expatriates