Hiring Through Uncertainty: How Employers Can Create Stability

Economic turbulence is a fact of life – there will be periods of disruption. Yet amid this chaos, one challenge persists above all others: finding skilled talent when you need it most.

The pandemic taught us harsh lessons about workforce resilience. Companies that were able to maintain a strong workforce were better positioned to weather the storm. Those that didn’t? In some cases, they’re still behind while competitors surge ahead.

Here’s what many employers miss: hiring during uncertain times is an opportunity to expand your talent strategy to include overlooked populations who bring exactly what you need—grit, adaptability, and hunger for opportunity.

The Hidden Cost of Traditional Hiring During Uncertainty

When uncertainty hits, most employers retreat to familiar hiring patterns. They chase candidates with perfect resumes and extensive experience. This approach backfires spectacularly when conditions shift rapidly.

Globally, 75 million young people are unemployed, and nearly three times that many are underemployed. Yet employers can’t fill entry-level jobs, with 40% saying skills shortages are the problem.

This narrow focus creates three critical problems:

Talent scarcity becomes artificial scarcity. You’re competing with every other employer for the same small pool of candidates. Salaries inflate. Time-to-hire stretches. Critical positions remain unfilled.

Skills gaps widen unnecessarily. The fastest-growing roles—cloud support, data analysis, digital marketing—don’t require four-year degrees. They require specific technical skills and the right mindset. Yet most employers overlook candidates who possess these qualities without traditional credentials.

Workforce diversity stagnates. When you hire from the same networks and backgrounds, you miss perspectives that drive innovation. In unpredictable times, diverse thinking becomes your competitive advantage.

The Generation Solution: Employment Programs That Deliver Results

Generation transforms this equation entirely. As a global employment program, we prepare job-ready learners for careers that would otherwise be inaccessible—then place them directly with employer partners.

Our approach works because we focus on what matters most: intrinsic qualities like grit and professional fit, assessed through literacy, numeracy, and behavioral skills. We prioritize these over formal education or previous work experience.

The results speak volumes:

• 83% job placement rate within six months of program completion
• 76% of graduates remain employed two to five years later
• 79% placed in jobs directly related to their Generation training
• $2.1 billion in wages earned by graduates to date

But here’s the metric that matters most to employers: 79% of our employed graduates over the last 12 months were hired by repeat employers. When companies hire Generation alumni once, they come back for more.

Why Generation Learners Thrive During Crisis

Our learners bring unique advantages that traditional hiring misses:

They’re crisis-tested. Most Generation learners have navigated significant challenges. 90% enter our programs unemployed, with 70% either unemployed for over six months or having never worked. They understand adversity and know how to persevere.

They’re immediately productive. Our seven-step methodology ensures learners are job-ready from day one. We engage employers throughout the training process, so graduates understand your specific needs and culture before they start.

They stay and grow. With 76% of alumni still employed 2-5 years post-graduation, you’re not just filling immediate needs—you’re building long-term workforce stability.

Building Your Resilient Hiring Strategy

Smart employers build proactively and stay ahead of talent shortages to diversify their pipeline. They build relationships with employment programs like Generation before they need them.

Here’s how to start:

Expand your talent definition. Look beyond degrees and years of experience. Focus on skills, mindset, and cultural fit. Our learners often outperform traditional hires because they’re hungry to prove themselves.

Partner with proven programs. Generation’s seven-step methodology includes employer engagement from the start, profession-specific training, rapid job placement, and post-employment mentorship. You’re not just hiring individuals—you’re accessing a complete talent development system.

Think long-term ROI. Yes, you might invest in additional onboarding or mentorship. But you’ll gain employees who stay longer, grow faster, and bring fresh perspectives to your organization.

Leverage data-driven results. Our impact evaluations, conducted by independent third parties like Mathematica, show Generation graduates achieve 50% higher employment rates and 75% higher income than comparable control groups. This isn’t feel-good hiring—it’s strategic talent acquisition.

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The Competitive Advantage of Impact Hiring

Forward-thinking employers understand that crisis reveals opportunity. While competitors struggle with talent shortages, you can access skilled, motivated learners ready to contribute immediately.

Our learners represent the workforce of the future: 53% are women, 70% have vocational training or secondary education, and 28% have dependents they’re working to support. They bring perspectives and experiences that drive innovation and connect with diverse customer bases.

More importantly, they bring stability. In our latest alumni survey, 86% feel optimistic about the future, and 82% want to give back to Generation in some way. These aren’t just employees—they’re ambassadors for your organization and champions of your mission.

Your Next Step: Building a Partnership with Generation

The question isn’t whether markets will shift—it’s whether you’ll be ready. Smart hiring strategies are built before you need them. Generation offers three ways to strengthen your workforce resilience:

Hire our graduates. We prepare learners in more than 33 professions across technology, healthcare, customer service, skilled trades, and green jobs. Our graduates are skilled, job-ready, and eager to add immediate value to your organization.

Partner with our programs. Share your expertise, provide mentorship, or contribute to curriculum development. Help shape the talent pipeline while building relationships with future employees.

Support our mission. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Generation relies on forward-thinking employers who understand that employment changes lives. Your support creates shared value and builds the workforce your industry needs.

Ready to transform your hiring strategy? Visit generation.org to explore partnership opportunities and connect with our team.

Because when uncertainty hits—and it will—you’ll have the talent pipeline that keeps your business moving forward while competitors stand still.