ManpowerGroup CEO stresses diversity in corporate talent sources


Korean companies will need to reinvent their strategies to hire graduates from different talent sources, according to Jeff Joerres, chief executive of ManpowerGroup, the largest U.S.-based staffing company.

Criticizing the university culture of developing the same skill sets and studying the same language materials here, the ManpowerGroup chief of 12 years emphasized the importance of prioritizing diversity for Korean companies reaching the top.

“When you homogenize your environment with the smartest people that have the same characteristics from the same universities, your decision in the end may not be as good, because you don’t have a good debate,” Joerres told The Korea Herald.

“Companies need to have the ability to hire from different talent sources, so that you can build diverse team of though, all bright, all outstanding, but they bring different perspectives for better end-products,” he said.

His insight comes from a new concept he introduced to the World Economic Forum in January ― Human Age. Arguing efficient resource allocation as one of the most important emerging task for the global economy, he had predicted companies are now entering the Human Age, like we had the industrial age, the space age, and the information age. The focus is not on technology or resources, but how they are used.

“Human Age is going to hit companies for the next 10 years minimum. Fundamental changes need to happen now because by the time you realize that your team has homogenous skills, the process would take too long to change it,” Joerres warned.

Filtering out those who studied at less famous universities is one example of how graduate applications are processed without prioritizing diversity and creativity, he said.

Founded in 1948, the Wisconsin-based company has been offering talent-driven needs from recruitment, assessment, training, outsourcing and workforce consulting.

According to ManpowerGroup’s research, one in three employers worldwide is experiencing difficulty filling vacancies even while workers are in over-supply. It said 90 percent of employers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa have problems filling critical positions, citing a lack of necessary skills, experience and qualifications.

Forty-five percent of Asia Pacific employers experienced difficulty, representing a 4 percent increase from last year’s response. The region especially reported a shortage of skilled sales representatives, with this position remaining the most difficult to fill for the sixth consecutive year.

Manpower, the world’s No. 3 staffing company in terms of sales, says its role is also increasing in an environment where unemployment is high from specific demand, not job shortages.

“The problem in Korea right now is that the economy is growing without employment. Young Koreans are interested in going abroad and our operations in 82 countries are equipped to deliver offshore services,” he said.

By Cynthia J. Kim (cynthiak@heraldcorp.com)