Sealing the black hole in HR and careers advice

There is a looming black hole in HR, careers advice and skills development that could blight a generation. HR professionals, in particular, will be facing some of the most challenging conditions seen in the UK since the 1930s.

The UK government wants to help but funds are limited. It wants people to embrace the idea of the Big Society and take action, but what are the commercial and social drivers, and how can HR professionals respond effectively over the next five to ten years?

Two main challenges are a clear skills gap, with employers struggling to find, engage with and select the most suitable candidates while there is the prospect of a million people unemployed through government cuts over the next five years. As an adjunct, education faces significant budget reductions as do the public sector careers advice services.

In this tough environment, companies will lean heavily on HR departments to manage more effective outreach that not only guides those being made redundant but also harnesses better ways to collaborate with constituent groups and communities.