Forget Skilled Workers, Manager Shortage is Looming

IndustryWeek (7/28, Jusko) – According to the 10th annual World of Work survey from Randstad, a professional employment services firm, slightly more than half (52%) of employees surveyed said there were not enough qualified managers in their organization, and 45% were of the opinion that businesses were going to face a shortage of qualified managers in the future. Interestingly, survey results suggested that people qualified to become managers were opting out, for reasons including increased stress, handling disgruntled employees, increased paperwork, and having to lay off or fire employees.

Among the arguments cited for a lack of skilled workers in manufacturing is the negative connotation associated with the manufacturing profession. Similarly, Randstad suggests that negatives associated with managerial responsibilities are outweighing the positives … According to the survey 89% reported they would want to be manager if they were able to share their knowledge and experience with others, and 85% cited both being responsible for the success of an organization and being able to influence decisions as other positives. (As a side note, these elements are frequently cited as the positive benefits of having an empowered workforce versus a command-and-control workplace.)