CollegeRecruiter.com Blog

I had the pleasure of listening to Dave Lefkow of Jobster yesterday at the National Association of Colleges and Employers 2006 annual conference in Anaheim. Dave's presentation was about the impending labor shortage or, more accurately, the impending skills shortage. While Dave correctly pointed out that no one can accurately predict the future, he set out a convincing case that the forces of supply and demand will eliminate the skills shortage, although perhaps with some sacrifices.

Dave foresees the possibility of pay increases, which will result in the decline of both economic growth due to higher costs of production and standards of living because the pay increases will lead to an increase in the cost of goods and services due to inflation. These forces will put downward pressure on demand for labor while at the same time other forces will put upward pressure on the supply of labor. These upward pressures include the desire by most Baby Boomers to continue to work past the traditional age of retirement (although on their terms), increased immigration, increased productivity, increased outsourcing/offshoring, increased labor force participation by those who traditionally are under represented in the market, and acts of divinity or man.

Dave sees the economy as shifting from knowledge to innovation. Winning organizations will develop brilliant ideas, bring them to market faster than their competitors, and hire better than their competitors. Organizations that want to be winners must hire stars by analyzing their needs and looking for visionaries, rewarding recruiters for high impact hires, and fostering environments where new ideas can be generated and take flight.

A truly enlightened presentation. Awesome, Dave.