The business world is changing rapidly as digital transformation becomes more and more important. Because of these shifts, there is now a huge global skills shortage around future technologies, and companies are working harder than ever to attract workers who have the tech skills they need.
With a growing demand for experts in virtual reality, augmented reality, blockchain, AI, and data comes an equally increasing shortage of qualified personnel.
In this article, we will explore strategies you can use to recruit qualified top-tier talent and retain your existing workers once they’re onboarded.
The Metaverse Skills Shortage
Many businesses are now struggling to find qualified professionals who have expertise in future internet technologies like web3, VR, AR, data, and AI. There is an ever-growing skills shortage in these areas that could have serious implications for companies’ ability to stay competitive.
Recent research shows that the global skills gap has grown significantly over the past decade, with nearly half of all employers reporting difficulty finding skilled workers in their respective fields. This is especially true when it comes to emerging tech such as blockchain and AI. A survey by PwC found that 44% of business leaders felt they lacked the necessary expertise needed to take advantage of these new technologies.
Job listings for key roles in the web3 and metaverse spaces are surging. According to an analysis by LinkedIn, job postings in the United States containing keywords like “Ethereum,” “blockchain,” and “cryptocurrency” grew 395% percent from 2020 to 2021.
The demand for skilled professionals in these areas is expected to continue growing exponentially over the next few years due to advancements in automation and machine learning capabilities across various industries. Companies need to start investing now if they want to stay ahead of the competition once these technologies become mainstream.
Fortunately, there are steps organizations can take today which will help them bridge the skills gap and recruit the best possible talent.
Strategies For Attracting Specialized Talent:
Boost Your Employer Brand
Having an attractive employer brand can make all the difference when you are trying to recruit top talent. Invest in your company’s online presence and make your employment packages (including salary and benefits) as appealing as possible for potential employees.
Showcase your company culture, including your values, mission statement, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Encourage your employees to become brand advocates, so they can share their experiences of working for your company. You may want to consider an employee referral program to incentivize employees to refer qualified candidates for open positions.
Create Innovation Hubs
Establishing innovation hubs or research centers focused on metaverse or web3 technology can be an effective way of recruiting new talent.
These hubs provide a space where creative ideas can flourish while allowing teams to develop their skill set further within a supportive, collaborative environment — which could prove invaluable when you are recruiting new staff members into your organization.
Upskill Existing Workers
Investing in upskilling existing workers is also important when trying to fill gaps in your team’s skill set. Whenever possible, provide training opportunities for current staff members to help them develop their knowledge and advance within your company.
Having a high-quality training and upskilling program in place at your company benefits your current employees and keeps them engaged, and it also shows potential candidates that your organization values its team members enough to invest in their development.
Retaining Good Workers
Retaining good workers is one of the keys to success for any business. You should strive to create an environment where employees feel valued and appreciated, as this will help them stay engaged and invested in their work with your company.
One way of doing this is by offering competitive pay and benefits packages. Employees need to be rewarded for their hard work, so it’s important that they are given a salary that reflects the value they bring to the company. Offering bonuses or other incentives can also be a great way of motivating staff and showing appreciation.
Remote working options can be an attractive incentive for potential employees who may have family or other commitments that make it difficult to commit to a full-time in-person office job. Flexible schedules are also beneficial, allowing employees to manage their own time while still meeting deadlines and expectations.
Additionally, offering professional development opportunities such as training courses or mentorship programs can help keep existing employees engaged with their work by giving them a chance to learn new skills or advance within the organization.
Attracting (and Retaining) the Talent You Need
Because of the current shortage of metaverse and web3 skills, your company may struggle to recruit the talent you need. But with the right strategies, you can attract a qualified pool of professionals who are knowledgeable about these emerging technologies.
Start by identifying the skills your organization needs to thrive in the metaverse and web3, then make a list of your missing skills. Once you have a list of needed skills, fill in the gaps with strategies like spotlighting your employer brand, creating enticing innovation hubs, and upskilling your existing workers.
Read more about these topics in my new book, The Future Internet: How the Metaverse, Web 3.0, and Blockchain Will Transform Business and Society. And don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube for more on the future trends in business and technology.
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