Strategic Workforce Planning for Business Resilience
Author:
Clarisa Wong
Published:
December 7, 2023
Last Update:
October 23, 2024
In today’s fast-paced business world that we live in, the most valuable asset that an organisation has is its people. As the world moves towards the beginning of a brand new 2024, it is vital to be aware of the key economic shifts and trends in order to build a high performing and an adaptable workforce – so that your organisation maintains a footing to be resilient and thrive in the meandering landscape of the global economy.
The global economic growth is expected to ease and slow from 2.9% this year to 2.6% in 2024; as Reuters news reported that elevated interest rates, higher energy prices and a slowdown in the world’s two largest economies will affect the growth1.
The year 2024 in general stands at an important pivotal juncture; it will usher in an economic landscape that is characterised by both opportunities and challenges. With the global economy in a constant state of flux, HR leaders are therefore entrusted with the significant task of navigating their organisations through the turbulent waters of change – making workforce planning an important tool that can spearhead and optimise growth that starts the year right.
Key challenges in the brand new year
A new year can bring about a set of new challenges in the face of changing economic times.
The first of these challenges is talent acquisition in an era marked by fierce competition for skilled professionals. High-growth companies need to attract and retain top tier talent to drive their expansion plans, and this necessitates a deep understanding of the economic landscape. Another challenge on the horizon is compliance.
The global regulatory landscape is constantly evolving – high-growth companies, especially those with global expansion plans, must navigate complex labour laws, immigration regulations, and tax compliance. Last but not least, HR leaders need to develop strategies to maintain operations, preserve employee morale, and ensure the organisation’s long-term sustainability.
With such challenges on the rise, organisations need to find the right balance and new solutions – especially in workforce planning – to push past the current economic stream for essential business growth and expansion.
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Strategies For Successful Workforce Planning
The first step to tackle the rising challenges is to have a strategic workforce planning. But what are the strategies that you can adopt for business resilience and to navigate the future economic trends?
Planning HR manpower with scenario planning
In an era marked by economic turbulence, HR leaders are tasked with the complex responsibility of ensuring that their organisation’s manpower is both resilient and adaptable to various economic outcomes.
Traditional workforce planning is no longer sufficient in the face of evolving economic conditions, making scenario planning an indispensable tool for HR professionals seeking to navigate the unpredictable future.
With scenario planning, an organisation’s success hinged on the ability to mitigate risks so as to stay agile and resilient during economic shifts.
Workforce resilience
To thrive, or even survive, in such turbulent times, organisations must prioritise workforce resilience. A resilient workforce is defined as one that can withstand economic shocks, adapt to changes, and continue to drive the business forward, even during recessions.
The key to building a resilient team lies in aligning talent with business needs – this will ensure that the workforce can adapt to evolving market conditions, capitalise on opportunities, and in turn, address challenges effectively.
Global remote team and talent retention
As the working world today shifts from traditional onsite working environments to remote working arrangements, retaining key employees has become the cost-effective and crucial factor for maintaining stability and driving growth, especially during periods of economic uncertainty.
Developing robust talent retention strategies is essential for organisational sustainability and success, such as understanding employee turnover and the role of engagement in ensuring employee retention.
Looking for more strategies that can help your organisation navigate the new economic trends in 2024 to accelerate your business growth?
Download our latest whitepaper here for more in-depth insights and empowering workforce planning templates to help you create a successful workforce plan.
