The rise of specialist temping culture in India
NEW TRENDS There are a significant number of employers, who are seeking specialist talent which means they are no longer looking only at pedigree or a stability marquee employer experience but an employee who can create impact
Much of the conversations around the organisation, role, growth and related dynamics of the job happen if the answer to that opening question is attractive. That opening line has been the key determinant for job seekers and providers for some time now.
Much of the job hunt for the majority has been for survival. It will continue to be so till a foreseeable future. The increase of formal jobs, specialised roles, rising income and millennials is leading to two distinct categories of workforce.
First are those who will need jobs for their physiological and security and the second are those in search of their psychological and fulfillment needs. In fact, recently the latter is turning out to be a complex space.
There are a significant number of employers, who are seeking specialist talent. This means they are no longer looking only at pedigree, stability marquee employer experience, however organisations want skilled employees who in a short time can make an impact.
But, this specialist talent comes with their own script for future employment. Not all of them want to toe the line of what employers want.
SKILLED TALENT DEMANDS
80% of specialist talent aren’t even interested in the jobs that are available in the market. It isn’t that they are very happy about their current job either. The reason they continue to work at their current employer is because there isn’t something better on offer in terms of their potential fulfillment. Skilled talent also seek impact roles which gives them a feeling of accomplishment. At a certain stage in their life they also pick a job which meets their lifestyle. Many of them don’t prefer long commutes to work or long work- ing hours. They want work from home options, longer leave benefits, study and travel sabbaticals to name a few. As you can imagine there are handful of employers who can offer any of these.
TALENT’S TURN
The rarer the skill the more specialised the skill to attract them becomes. Across the world, employers have evolved to attract this talent. United States and many European countries moved first towards flexibility from full time employment. Short term assignments became the first step. So much so that 15 million people in USA work on project based full time assignments. But, that dedication to a single employer even though for a short term did not meet the needs of the talent. The world of freelancers was born to attract the freedom, flexibility, creativity and productivity of specialised talent. Today over 50 million in USA work as freelancers which is 1/3rd of their workforce. Over 50% of them are millennials.
INDIA’S TRANSITION
India has just warmed up to the thought of short term assignments and it’s insignificant at 3 million workers. But, has given rise to a $6 billion staffing industry and we have already seen two block buster IPOS with more to come.
This hasn’t come due to choice of talent but because some jobs were only available as short term. People lapped it up as a job was better than no job. It’s understandable as India is still a new kid on the block in terms of job creation. We are just evolving in the quality of jobs available and our labour laws are a ‘work in progress’ making any overnight miracles challenging.
The next decade for short term assignments of specialists is promising.
Skills getting transient is making things even hotter for the staffing Industry. Specialised skills in IT, Engineering, Accounting, Home care and Sales would create a $20 billion staffing Industry, which is three times growth from the current status.
The continued formalization of employment, GST, GDP at 6%, the steady influx of young graduate workforce and aging world will only hasten that.
India’s talent will continue to pick between survival, security and fulfillment depending on their skill levels. But the number of people who seek their calling, fulfillment, flexibility and freedom will rise. Organisations and recruiters will find it challenging to catch up with this trend.