Building a pipeline of future talent has never been more important. Companies across industries are facing workforce shortages and a growing skills gap. At the same time, demographic changes are impacting the composition of the U.S. population, and the nation’s labor force. While white participation in the labor force has continued to decline over the past several decades, labor force participation of minority populations is growing. Developing collaborations with education providers, government entities and community-based organizations to cultivate and curate diverse talent from a young age is critical. By focusing on students in K-12, companies can identify future talent earlier and help high potential students develop the skills and competencies they will need to be successful in the workforce. Companies that leverage this advantage can get future workers interested in their industries and support them through apprenticeships, internships and on-the-job learning opportunities. Investing in underrepresented segments of the population – and developing strategies to reach untapped talent pools to bring people on the margins into the picture – have the potential to greatly increase and influence the next generation of U.S. workers.
Note: This Guide was created in 2019, and has been re-uploaded for the benefit of Seramount’s Diversity Best Practices members.
