Experts discuss emerging workforce issues

[caption id="attachment_88226" align="alignnone" width="469"] Brenda Gilchrist, Craig Nelson, Carolyn Stark[/caption]

The workforce outlook throughout the North Bay over the next six years is a hot topic among employment agency heads, business leaders and educators alike.

Historic evidence on post-depression and recession events shows that along with higher consumer and business confidence and improving economic conditions comes the need for employers to be concerned about employee retention efforts and turnover, according to Brenda Gilchrist, co-founder of the HR Matrix.

"Although the recovery has been anemic, an estimated 40-50 percent of employees who remained in current positions throughout the downturn are thinking about leaving as they see an increase in job opportunities -- causing a turnover and resume tsunami effect," she said. [See also "Employees to seek more pay, new jobs in 2014, survey finds" in this report.]Tourism, wine jobs in demand

Innovation will continue to drive growth in the North Bay and throughout California, according to Craig Nelson,  a member of the board of the Nelson family of companies.  

"Our technology and interactive business units are channeling skilled software, digital media and engineering talent to companies in several industry categories," he said.

"We anticipate tourism and wine will remain a hot commodity in the North Bay until -- and beyond -- 2020," he said. Nelson Wine & Beverage, based in Napa, is keeping up with demand for hospitality talent in this industry, he added.Rise of medtech jobs

The aging demographic in California and throughout the U.S. will provide strong demand for quality medical-device equipment, according to Mr. Nelson.

"As those businesses flourish, Nelson Engineering is striving to provide skilled talent that is getting harder to find. Telecom, too, supported by federal programs committed to expanding rural broadband networks, will require more accomplished technicians."

Ms. Gilchrist pointed to a recent Medtech Salary Survey 2013 survey reporting that more medical-device and diagnostic industry (MD+DI) professionals are looking for new jobs. Over 40 percent say they are actively looking, or strongly considering searching, for a job outside of their company -- up from a third in 2012.

"We are also seeing increased activity among employers looking for contingent workers, a provisional group who work on a non-permanent, part-time basis, including freelancers, temporary contract workers, independent contractors and consultants," she said.Need for more contract workers

With California’s trend toward buying healthful, locally produced foods, Nelson Staffing is supporting its agricultural and manufacturing clients looking for additional workers.

"Contract work is increasing as a percentage of overall employment in the North Bay," Mr. Nelson said. "Our focus will be to continue attracting and developing talent to satisfy growing demand."Competition fuels 'job-flipping'

Silicon Valley and San Francisco attract talent due to the density of similar employers in the region, creating a very competitive business climate that has fostered a lot of "job-flipping," said Carolyn Stark, executive director of Sonoma County Building Economic Success Together, or BEST. Yet there's not quite the same speed of job turnover in the North Bay, she said.

"Our competition for talent is just as fierce," she said. "The challenge is to show companies and prospective talent from around the Bay Area that there are jobs here that are just as competitive, but fused with a significantly higher quality of life than that seen in Silicon Valley and San Francisco."

Ms. Stark said the North Bay has a lower cost of doing business and higher workforce retention, and that these are some of the key regional advantages that can help in running a successful company.

A key BEST initiative has been to form groups of companies, working in the same industry sector, that come together to build greater awareness of North Bay industries.

"At the same time we are working to help existing businesses be more successful. Once that happens, our outstanding quality of life can seal the deal for talent thinking of moving here."

BEST was formed to help businesses create 2,500 direct jobs over five years.

"After just two years into our work, we have achieved 40 percent of this goal," Ms. Stark said. "Uncovering obstacles to growth and resolving them is how BEST works to make businesses successful."Appropriate social media use

Social media is playing an increasing role in helping job seekers establish a Web presence employers can see and assess, according to Richard Campbell, associate professor of marketing at Sonoma State University.

"LinkedIn is one of the first sites recruiters and HR people go to view the profiles and resumes of applicants and see if they consistently mirror what is submitted," he said.

This Web tool gives candidates extra space to add more content, samples of PowerPoint presentations, videos, school projects and letters and comments of recommendation.

"These additional items show the level of engagement a person has with the nonacademic world and the depth of these activities," he said.

However, job-seekers should be careful what they put on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or other social networks, Mr. Campbell said. Posts may not be appropriate or reveal negative feelings about a company or industry.

"The key is to determine what is acceptable within a given industry and knowing what employers want to see," he said.

Learn this by going to Twitter and company websites and by following business-leader comments in chat rooms and on blogs associated with firms where they want to work.

There has been an increase in industry-specific websites such as Work In Sports and Team Work Online, for example, for those seeking jobs in this sector, according to Mr. Campbell.

"There is no quick fix," he said. "Job-seekers have to visit these links and sites every day. Look at the skill sets employers want, the industry terms they use and the type of people they are searching for, and then respond in kind."

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