The Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council estimates that the Canadian economy will add 80,000 supply chain jobs a year going forward. And as baby boomers hit their retirement peak over the next seven to thirteen years, the demand for talent is increasing, especially among high level professional roles in strategic business, supply chain, procurement, and logistics.
As an industry, we haven’t been proactive enough in lobbying our secondary and post-secondary schools to promote supply chain and procurement as a lucrative and vital career option. Combined, these two factors are squeezing the workforce on either end, and it’s creating a growing talent deficit in these critical business functions. So who steps in to fill the gap?
A recent article in the University of Minnesota’s Public Sector Digest explored the rise of highly skilled contingent and contract staffing at top companies. Dana Shaw, a Senior Vice President at Staffing Industry Analysts, remarked: “Right now, the average mix of contingent workers at Fortune 100 companies is 20-30% of the workforce, but this will increase to 50% by 2020.”
We’re starting to see this shift more at Argentus every day: a steady uptick in demand for contingent staffing, particularly in procurement, strategic sourcing and supply chain management. These aren’t unskilled or lower-level administrative labor or IT contract personnel; they’re seasoned professionals, managers, technical experts, knowledge workers and executives. Some of Canada’s top companies are engaging this type of talent to tackle business improvement, compliance and regulatory issues, process integration, strategic initiatives and other time-sensitive projects, as well as more traditional leave coverages.
On the flipside, professionals are realizing that the workforce has changed. The model of working for one company for your entire career is unrealistic and outdated. Savvy procurement and supply chain professionals are realizing the financial and lifestyle benefits of working on a contractual basis. What they give up in job stability, they gain many times over in higher hourly pay rates, tax advantages (through incorporation), the opportunity to work across a variety of industries and projects, career flexibility, and work/life balance.
Many contingent workers in the Argentus network are “punching above their weight” in terms of salary, responsibility, and career progression simply because highly skilled contingent workers are leading market demand.
With its unique subject matter expertise and broad network of professionals who have made the switch from permanent to contract, Argentus is the best recruiting partner to fulfill contingent staffing needs in supply chain.
To find out how you can leverage the contingent workforce to improve supply chain, procurement, or strategic sourcing functions for your business:
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