Identifying workforce needs

Udder's guide to identifying workforce needs (part of Strategic Workforce Planning)

Identifying workforce needs is an essential step in the strategic workforce planning process. It involves analysing the organisation's business objectives and determining the skills and capabilities required to achieve them. There are several methods that organisations can use to identify their workforce needs, including:

Analysing the organisation's current and future product or service offerings: By understanding the products or services an organisation plans to offer in the future, it is possible to identify the skills and capabilities required to deliver those products or services effectively.

Identifying emerging trends in the industry: Keeping track of emerging trends in the industry can help organisations identify new skills and capabilities that may be needed in the future. For example, the rapid pace of technological change may require organisations to invest in training and development programs to ensure that their workforce is equipped with the necessary skills.

Considering the impact of technological change: Adopting new technologies can significantly impact an organisation's workforce needs. For example, the increasing use of automation and artificial intelligence may require organisations to reskill their workforce or hire employees with new skills.

Gathering input from stakeholders: Organisations can gather input from stakeholders, such as employees, customers, and industry experts, to identify current and future workforce needs. This can help organisations better understand the skills and capabilities needed to meet business objectives and deliver value to customers.

Conducting a skills inventory: A skills inventory is a comprehensive assessment of the skills and capabilities of the current workforce. Organisations can identify gaps or overlaps in their workforce by conducting a skills inventory and determining where additional training or development may be needed.