The talent mismatch is one of four World of Work mega trends that are transforming where, when, why and how individuals and companies work, according to Manpower.

At the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum yesterday, Manpower revealed its top concerns for business leaders around the globe when planning their workforce management strategy through the recovery.

The top concerns are:

• The talent mismatch: A talent gap is widening as the working age population declines and the changing nature of work changes causing significant shifts in talent supply transforming the global labour market
  
  
• Individual choice: This will be exercised by those armed with the most in demand skills causing companies to think differently about how jobs are defined and how they will recruit and retain scarce talent
• Rising customer sophistication: This trend requires businesses to adopt new methods, driven by innovation and delivering greater value and efficiency
• Technological revolutions: This will have the power to change where, when and how we work, enabling organisations to be more agile and innovative - if they know how to leverage it.

Jeff Joerres, Manpower Inc chairman and chief executive, says: “In recent weeks, the status and significance of the rapidly expanding temporary workforce has been widely discussed - and woefully misunderstood.

“Companies will increasingly look to temporary workers to gain the flexibility and agility required to appropriately and strategically adjust to consumer demand. At the same time, individuals are increasingly exercising more choice when it comes to pursuing employment that meets their expectations and taps their motivations.”