Emerging tech is gaining acceptance in hiring

With employee skill needs and talent development technology changing rapidly, nearly half (45 percent) of learning and development professionals and HR leaders from large organizations say they’re concerned about having a lack of agility—and training not keeping up with those changes, according to a new survey.

The research also found a number of employers are increasingly re-evaluating their thinking about the traditional four-year degree being a standard career gateway requirement.

Eight in 10 HR professionals say certifications from recognized certifying bodies are valuable or very valuable in screening and evaluating candidates.

Talent Acquisition in the Digital Age

While more companies are using certifications to assess and validate the skills of new hires, some organizations have been hesitant to embrace digital badges.

Fifty percent of the survey respondents predict badges will have moderate situational growth over the next two years. Approximately a third of HR professionals report digital badges currently are somewhat applicable in the hiring process; but nearly an equal number of respondents said they’re unsure.

Challenges in verification and a lack of standards in how badges are awarded are the top two factors HR professionals say could potentially inhibit further adoption of digital badge use in hiring.

The survey also touched on new hiring tactics organizations are utilizing, due to the tight labor market — including employing new recruiting tools or platforms; adding or increasing perks, such as flex schedules, and re-evaluating their hiring criteria. Employers are also spending more on job boards, fairs and recruiters and exploring how to build a talent pipeline.

Companies’ top talent and HR priorities over the next 12 months include implementing new and better approaches to training and professional development — followed by identifying and addressing employee skills gaps more effectively; implementing new tools for hiring and screening job candidates; improving processes for managing a blended workforce and becoming more data-driven in areas such as staff satisfaction and performance.

For more on what learning and development professionals and HR leaders think, view this information about CompTIA’s research.