Talent hunt tops U.S. business challenges despite optimism in 2024 – report

WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES — United States employers are increasingly positive about the 2024 economy but still anxious about hiring, according to a new survey.
The 2024 National Business Trends report by the Employer Associations of America found acquiring talent was named the number one business challenge for next year.
Cybersecurity looms as the second most pressing concern, followed closely by the retention of current talent. Interestingly, the hiring landscape appeared slightly more favorable in 2023, with a minor dip in planned hirings from the previous year.
To attract candidates, the top wish list items were competitive pay (86%), work-life balance (77%), schedule flexibility (59%), paid time off (37%), and robust benefits (34%).
On the other hand, there’s an optimistic swing in sentiment, with 67% of executives believing the economy will either improve or hold steady, a significant leap from last year’s 49%.
“It’s great to see a number of positives from this year’s national trends,” said EAA Board of Directors Chair Kim Koy, president and CEO of the Employers Council.
“We are seeing a shift to an ‘improvement’ mindset. While many still anticipate a decline, indicators show positive movement upward.”
The EAA report also touched on the evolving dynamics of remote work, noting that only a fraction of the workforce operates remotely on a full-time basis.
The EAA represents over 35,000 U.S. companies and 6 million employees. Its annual survey polled 1,049 organizations nationwide.