--- title: 5 Tips to Attract and Retain Talented Staff description: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported 8.1 million job openings and about half as many available workers. Wow! Read on to learn how to attract talent. image: https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Interview-2.jpg --- 2 min read # 5 Tips to Attract and Retain Talented Staff [![Picture of Brad Johnson](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/hubfs/Horizon-Icon-Logo.png) Brad Johnson ](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/author/brad-johnson) : August 18, 2021 at 8:55 AM [Onboarding](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/topic/onboarding) [Hiring](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/topic/hiring) ![Interview-2](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Interview-2.jpg?width=700&name=Interview-2.jpg) Don't have time to read this article? [Watch it instead](https://youtu.be/i3FYMfUfWhk)! We know now is a tough time to attract and retain a talented team. In early June 2021, [the U.S. Chamber of Commerce](https://www.uschamber.com/report/the-america-works-report-quantifying-the-nations-workforce-crisis) reported 8.1 million job openings and about half as many available workers. Wow! So if you're struggling to hire and retain talent, you're not alone. Here are 5 tips to attract and retain talented staff, even during a nationwide worker shortage. ## 1. Look for pitfalls within your current recruiting strategy, and actually make improvements According to [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/2021/06/attracting-talent-during-a-worker-shortage) (HBR), "a successful recruiting strategy starts with acknowledging that you won’t solve your current hiring challenges by applying the solutions of the past. This is the time to revisit your previous underlying assumptions, stress-testing them one by one."  Having a few friends or colleagues take a look at your current recruitment strategy (without divulging company secrets) is a helpful tip we recommend to all employers. They see pitfalls that you cannot. ## **2. Applicant tracking is key to attracting and hiring the right employee** According to Recruiterbox.com, the average HR team spends 30.5 hours and $756.50 to $1,176.50 during the hiring process for one position alone. That includes posting the job, reviewing applicants, prescreening candidates, and prepping for interviews.  As an employer, it's a good idea to utilize [applicant tracking systems](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/solutions/hiring-and-onboarding) that allow you to choose the right employee with the most efficient amount of time and effort. ## **3. Make it easier for employees who commute** According to [HBR research](https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20151507), "a 1% increase in distance is associated to a 4.4% decrease in commuting flows across U.S. counties. One practical implication of this for hiring managers is that if you are able to recruit from a county that is 10% closer to you, you will find 44% more people who are already commuting to your location. In other words, obsessing about attracting local talent pays off." They suggest that, as an employer, cutting down on the number of days employees commute to work could be helpful in attracting and retaining talented staff. For example, for your full-time employees, offering a four-day work week with ten-hour days could be viewed as an incentive to stay on your team. ## **4. Adjust your salaries to the cost of living** According to [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/2021/06/attracting-talent-during-a-worker-shortage), "Since 2020 alone, real average hourly earnings have decreased by more than 3%. One organization we worked with had been offering their service representatives the same salary of $30,000 annually for the last 20 years." Adjusting your salaries to the current cost of living is an excellent place to start. Cost of living has increased, so shouldn't salaries increase too? If your wages aren't in line with the cost of living, turnover is likely. Your staff will continue to look for employers who *will* pay them the appropriate amount.   ## 5. Flexibility is key to retention According to a Robert Half survey of 1,000 U.S. workers, 34%, about 1 in 3 professionals, say that they will look for a new job if they are required to return to the office full time, and 49% preferred a hybrid approach of remote and in-office work. It's important to listen to your employees' wants and needs in order to retain them. As an employer, it's a good idea to utilize [timekeeping and attendance solutions](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/solutions/time-and-attendance/devices) that allow you to efficiently manage from afar. [Subscribe to our HR and Tax Alerts](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/resources/newsletter-subscribe) to receive more Human Resources related tips and best practices in your inbox. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![From Opening Day to the Playoffs: Managing an MiLB Seasonal Workforce](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/hubfs/panoramic-3110182_1920.jpg) ](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/from-opening-day-to-the-playoffs-managing-your-milb-seasonal-workforce) 6 min read #### [From Opening Day to the Playoffs: Managing an MiLB Seasonal Workforce](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/from-opening-day-to-the-playoffs-managing-your-milb-seasonal-workforce) ![Picture of Brad Johnson](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Horizon-Icon-Logo.png?width=30&name=Horizon-Icon-Logo.png) [Brad Johnson](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/author/brad-johnson) : October 24, 2018 at 8:47 AM "It is a worker's market," said Jocelyn Mangan (Chief Operating Officer of online employment platform at Snagajob) to the Society for Human Resource... [Onboarding](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/topic/onboarding) [Hiring](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/topic/hiring) [General](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/topic/general) [Read More](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/from-opening-day-to-the-playoffs-managing-your-milb-seasonal-workforce) [![Employee Experience Underlies These 5 HR Topics to Watch in 2019](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/hubfs/integration-1777537_1920.jpg) ](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/employee-experience-underlies-these-5-hr-topics-to-watch-in-2019) 4 min read #### [Employee Experience Underlies These 5 HR Topics to Watch in 2019](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/employee-experience-underlies-these-5-hr-topics-to-watch-in-2019) ![Picture of Brad Johnson](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Horizon-Icon-Logo.png?width=30&name=Horizon-Icon-Logo.png) [Brad Johnson](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/author/brad-johnson) : January 9, 2019 at 3:47 PM In 2019 improving employee experience will top many organizations’ to-do lists. When you think of the resources companies devote to studying and... [Onboarding](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/topic/onboarding) [Hiring](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/topic/hiring) [culture](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/topic/culture) [Read More](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/employee-experience-underlies-these-5-hr-topics-to-watch-in-2019) [![Get On Board with Onboarding: Why The Way You Hire Matters](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Business%20man%20pointing%20to%20transparent%20board%20with%20text%20You're%20Hired!.jpeg) ](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/get-on-board-with-onboarding-why-the-way-you-hire-matters) 5 min read #### [Get On Board with Onboarding: Why The Way You Hire Matters](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/get-on-board-with-onboarding-why-the-way-you-hire-matters) ![Picture of Brad Johnson](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Horizon-Icon-Logo.png?width=30&name=Horizon-Icon-Logo.png) [Brad Johnson](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/author/brad-johnson) : July 26, 2017 at 6:36 PM Most of us can remember being the new person on the job. Even if you’re excited for a change, it can be a little scary when you don’t quite know what... [Onboarding](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/topic/onboarding) [Hiring](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/topic/hiring) [Human Resources](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/topic/human-resources) [Read More](https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/get-on-board-with-onboarding-why-the-way-you-hire-matters) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Brad Johnson", "url" : "https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/author/brad-johnson" }, "dateModified" : "2021-10-07T21:03:42.511Z", "datePublished" : "2021-08-18T12:55:10.000Z", "headline" : "5 Tips to Attract and Retain Talented Staff", "image" : [ "https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Interview-2.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/blog/5-tips-attract-retain-talented-staff", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.horizonpayrollsolutions.com/hubfs/Horizon-Logo-Official.png" }, "name" : "Horizon Payroll" } } ```