Two-Thirds of U.S. Companies Turn to IT Contractors to Overcome Talent Shortages and Improve Workforce Flexibility

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As IT roles continue to rank among the most difficult to fill globally, U.S. employers are increasingly exploring hybrid workforce solutions by including more contractors and freelancers – just 41% say they rely solely on permanent staff. This is according to a survey of senior IT managers across ten countries, conducted by Experis, the professional resourcing and project-based solutions arm of ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN). U.S. employers lag behind global competitors in their overall use of contractors, but many plan increases.

Download the "IT Workforce Composition Across the Globe" infographic here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4nS0l5HUQuJejZMY0dPVmlBUmM/view?usp=sharing 

According to Experis, companies that cast a wide net – leveraging expertise among permanent, contract and freelance IT workers – will find their workforce better positioned to overcome talent shortages, improve business agility and flexibility, build an internal talent pipeline for the future and preserve organizational knowledge. Indications are, however, that many are still struggling to transition from a single-sourcing model, to a more dynamic, hybrid mix. The research shows this intransience can be a stumbling block for some as labor markets tighten with the improving economy.

"As employers continue to be challenged by fast-changing business cycles and growing talent shortages, many are exploring alternative work models to find the skills they need," said Sean Costello, Senior Vice President of Experis, North America. "This is especially true in the IT sector, where skills requirements are constantly evolving and the demand for talent is high. The contractor model is often well-suited to this environment, because it offers greater flexibility, and tends to attract the kind of self-motivated individuals who prioritize on-going skills development. Employers that explore all talent options generally have an easier time finding the skills they need."

Highlights from the research include:

• There is great variation across markets when it comes to in-country IT hiring practices: Germany (63%), India (62%) and Australia (58%) rely heavily on permanent employees, while the UK (30%), France/Italy (36%) and the U.S. (40%) take a more agile approach to workforce composition, balancing out their use of permanent employees with contractors.
• Employers have a clear preference for more flexible workforce mixes when hiring for IT talent overseas compared to their hiring habits at home. One exception is India, a large exporter of IT contracts, with a majority of employers (46%) relying solely on contractors when operating abroad.
• The use of IT contractors is a growing trend, with 71% of employers across the globe currently tapping contract talent and an anticipated net increase of +13 in the future.
• India and Brazil report the highest use of contract work (87% and 83%), while other countries such as the U.S. (66%), Japan (65%), Australia (59%) and Germany (40%) are slower to adapt to meet these changing needs. Companies in the U.S. plan to accelerate their use of contract work in the future, but the most contract growth will come from BRIC markets such as India, China and Brazil.

There are many benefits to using contract work: contractors bring greater cost savings and more flexibility — two things that are increasingly important for businesses in the volatile IT environment. Experis urges that IT leaders rethink hiring strategies in order to strike a more effective balance between permanent and contingent solutions, better positioning their workforces to keep pace with the changing dynamics.

For more information on IT workforce composition and other industry best practices, visit: http://www.manpowergroup.us/campaigns/experis/it-workforce-composition/

About Experis
Experis™ is the global leader in professional resourcing and project-based solutions. Experis accelerates organizations' growth by attracting, assessing and placing specialized expertise in IT, Finance and Engineering to deliver in-demand talent for mission-critical positions and projects, enhancing the competitiveness of the organizations and people we serve. Experis is part of the ManpowerGroup family of companies, which also includes Manpower, ManpowerGroup Solutions and Right Management. To learn more, visit www.experis.com.

About ManpowerGroup
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN) is the world's workforce expert, creating innovative workforce solutions for nearly 70 years. As workforce experts, we connect more than 600,000 people to meaningful work across a wide range of skills and industries every day. Through our ManpowerGroup family of brands – Manpower®, Experis®, Right Management® and ManpowerGroup® Solutions – we help more than 400,000 clients in 80 countries and territories address their critical talent needs, providing comprehensive solutions to resource, manage and develop talent. In 2016, ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the sixth consecutive year and one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup makes powering the world of work humanly possible: www.manpowergroup.com.

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SOURCE ManpowerGroup