Developing a plan to meet future workforce needs

Udder's guide to planning for the future needs of your workforce (part of Strategic Workforce Planning)

Developing a plan to meet future needs is a critical step in the strategic workforce planning process. It involves identifying gaps between the skills and capabilities of the current workforce and the skills and capabilities required to achieve the organisation's business objectives and developing a plan to address those gaps. There are several strategies that organisations can use to develop a plan to meet future needs, including:

Training and development programs: Training and development programs can help organisations build the skills and capabilities of their current workforce, enabling them to meet future needs. This may involve providing in-house training, sending employees to external training programs, or offering tuition assistance for employees who wish to pursue further education.

Recruiting new employees: If the current workforce lacks the necessary skills and capabilities to meet future needs, organisations may need to recruit new employees with the required skills and experience. This may involve targeting specific job boards, recruiting events, or partnering with schools or universities to identify talented candidates.

Restructuring the workforce: In some cases, restructuring the workforce may be necessary to meet future needs. This may involve reorganising the organisation's structure, changing job roles or responsibilities, or implementing new systems or processes.

Outsourcing or partnering with other organisations: In some cases, it may be more effective for organisations to outsource specific tasks or functions or to form partnerships with other organisations to access the necessary skills and capabilities.

By developing a plan to meet future needs, organisations can ensure that they have the right mix of skills and capabilities to achieve their business objectives and remain competitive in the long term. It is important to regularly review and update the plan to ensure it remains relevant and effective as the organisation's needs and objectives change.