conscious quitters, AI and talent: perspectives on the latest trends

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Randstad Roundup.

Following our Workmonitor report in January, we have published the 2024 Talent Trends report.

Where Workmonitor explored how talent views the world of work today, this new research analyzes the employer perspective on the key challenges and opportunities in 2024.

Together, they provide you with a comprehensive picture to help navigate the world of work now. Read on to discover key insights from both publications.

Humans x AI

Artificial intelligence – Generative AI in particular – has been the subject of much debate and is already reshaping how many of us work. The latest Talent Trends report explores how organizations can use technology to enhance their talent acquisition and management capabilities.

Employers reported that investment in this area has provided numerous benefits.

A third said that AI and automation has allowed them to improve efficiencies and consistencies in their processes, while 30% reported that it had increased their ability to scale. Meanwhile, 45% of organizations said they are using the technology to identify high-potential employees for leadership roles and promotions.

Workmonitor research shows that talent is also prioritizing AI skills, with 23% of respondents ranking it as the future-proofing skill they are most interested in.

Re-interpreting skills

The Talent Trends report also indicated that, when it comes to identifying new talent, must-have criteria are changing and many employers are shifting to a skills-focused model.

Where once hiring managers may have looked for qualifications or educational achievements, skills now top the list, with traits such as critical thinking and emotional intelligence ranking highly.

Employers ranked the potential to learn and to grow (83%), intellectual or personality traits (80%), and personal motivations and aspirations relevant to the position (80%) as the three most important considerations when evaluating prospective hires.

And while they will be pleased to know that talent is keen to learn new skills, there appears to be a mismatch in how often the two parties feel the need to talk about progression.

Workmonitor research found that more than a third (36%) of talent would like to discuss opportunities at least once a quarter, yet 30% say their employer never speaks to them about it.

Investing in talent experience

Employers are also recognizing the importance of investing in their culture to retain and attract the best talent. Both employers and employees identified flexibility, equity and belonging as important areas of focus.

A quarter of leaders said they want to invest more in the way they articulate strong company values and their value proposition to employees. This priority is second only after skilling initiatives (30%). An additional 22% feel they need to work on shifting toward a culture that prioritizes personal well-being.

You can access the full Talent Trends report here, and Workmonitor here.

The rise of the conscious quitters

In recent years, we have heard lots of talk about quiet quitting — where talent puts in only the minimum of effort to keep their job.

Now, however, it’s conscious quitting that’s on the rise. In this context, the term refers to individuals who take decisive action if their employers are unable to understand, recognize, and accommodate their personal values.

Gen Z colleagues are particularly outspoken when it comes to aligning values with their employer. Almost a third have already quit a role because their employer did not take action on an issue that was important to them. You can read Sander van ’t Noordende’s full article on the issue here.

That’s all from us for now. Looking ahead, we're eagerly awaiting Pride Month in June. Watch this space for exclusive insights into how LGBTQI+ talent are experiencing the world of work.

In the meantime, we’ll continue to bring you the latest global talent news and trends.