The Electrical Engineering Talent Shortage: How Companies Can Adapt and Overcome
The manufacturing sector is picking up speed, and with it, the demand for electrical engineers is skyrocketing, especially in high-tech industrial automation, electrical electronics, and appliance sectors. The challenge? There’s just not enough electrical engineers on the market right now.
This leaves many hiring managers scrambling, often working with multiple recruiters in an attempt to fill critical technical engineering positions. The situation is even tougher for companies in smaller markets, where the talent pool is thinner.
Challenges Facing Hiring Managers:
- Increased demand for electrical engineers in key industries
- Shortage of available talent, especially in smaller markets
- Difficulty in meeting project deadlines without unnecessary stress
In response, some businesses are getting creative with their hiring strategies, offering relocation assistance—covering first and last month’s rent or even providing housing support for the first three months—to attract the talent they need.
Creative Hiring Strategies:
- Offering relocation assistance (covering first and last month’s rent)
- Providing housing support for the first three months
- Opening up their search to H1B candidates
- Expanding search efforts beyond traditional recruitment methods
But short-term fixes won’t solve a long-term problem. The real solution lies in redefining and re-architecting your recruiting and hiring process. That might sound uncomfortable, but real change requires stepping outside of the usual ways of doing things.
Long-Term Solutions for Hiring Success:
- Redefining and re-architecting the recruiting and hiring process
- Utilizing professional headhunters for targeted executive searches
- Focusing on skill sets, personality, and cultural fit
- Reducing time spent on sifting through applications and pre-screening candidates
Unlike traditional recruitment methods, targeted executive searches focus not just on skill sets but also on personality and cultural fit. Instead of sifting through endless applications, pre-screening candidates, and handling scheduling logistics, hiring managers can focus on what truly matters: evaluating a pre-vetted candidate’s technical expertise and ensuring a seamless onboarding process.
If your company is struggling to find the right electrical engineering talent, it may be time to rethink your hiring strategy.
A well-structured, proactive approach will put you ahead of the competition and ensure your team has the support it needs to deliver results, without the stress and uncertainty.