Randstad Sourceright shared insight on some of the top trends in recruiting based on its 2015 Talent Trends Report.

The report identified three major trends in how companies connect with top talent in today's challenging recruiting landscape. These include:

Increasing role of the employer brand:

Two-thirds of HR leaders surveyed said their organization is more focused on employer branding than they were five years ago. Additionally, 57% attribute their company’s ability to attract top talent to a strong brand. The top three reasons organizations succeed in attracting top talent were found to be a pronounced reputation and brand, strong industry appeal and competitive salary and benefits.

Culture and aptitude fit win over skills:

Company culture has an enormous impact on attracting and retaining top talent, which explains why many of the companies noted for their unique, enjoyable work cultures are also some of the most profitable, according to the company. Randstad Sourceright predicts investing in the creation and continuous improvement of a differentiated company culture will be a priority for C-suite executives this year. At the same time, aptitude, personality and cultural fit will emerge as key factors in the talent selection process, favored over traditional hiring factors, such as specific qualifications. Focusing on aptitude and attitude to do the job, and investing in learning and development to build needed skills and qualifications will enable organizations to expand their talent pool and enhance their culture.

The rise of online talent communities:

Randstad Sourceright expects more employers will build robust talent communities throughout 2015 to engage with a larger talent pool. This will provide access to passive and active candidates, past applicants, current and former employees and other members who help employers find the talent they're looking for. Overall, the company found that 50% of employers plan to invest in social media and online community management in 2015 to better tap this source of talent.

“Finding the best talent available has become increasingly difficult in recent years, requiring employers to continuously adapt their recruiting strategies to keep up with changing demands,” said Robert Lopes, president of RPO for Randstad Sourceright. “Our Talent Trends research uncovers both the challenges companies face in connecting with right-fit candidates, and the strategies they’re using to overcome these obstacles.”

Contingent workforce

The report also found business agility remains a top priority for organizational growth and development, and all signs indicate the use of flexible labor is growing worldwide. The survey found 46% of respondents said they consider every type of labor (permanent, temporary, contractor and statement of work consultants) when undertaking workforce planning.

Many respondents indicated a significant component of their workforce is contingent. The survey found 31% of respondents said more than 20% of their total workforce is employed on a contingent basis. And 69% said to maintain a competitive workforce over the next five to 10 years, they will need a higher percentage of continent workers than what is utilized today.

The report is based on the survey responses of 350 HR directors, talent acquisition leaders and HR managers, focusing on the biggest trends and challenges impacting their recruiting success.

Randstad Sourceright's services include MSP, recruitment process outsourcing, career transition services, blended workforce solutions and payrolling and independent contractor compliance.