Euronews Debates: How do you recruit and retain talent in times of change?

One of the key themes to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic in the world of work has been the challenge for businesses in recruiting and retaining talent.

With lockdowns and restrictions forcing companies to adapt and implement flexible working policies as a necessity, workers got a taste of what was possible.

Companies are having to race to adapt to the demands of this new workforce, which is hungry for flexibility and better working conditions.

Now hybrid working has emerged as a clear legacy from firms being forced to adopt work from home policies almost overnight during the pandemic.

But is this enough for the new post-pandemic worker? Individuals are increasingly scrutinising employers over things like their carbon footprint, sustainability commitments, corporate and social responsibility, and diversity.

And following the pandemic, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, alongside record levels of inflation, Europe’s companies are feeling the cost of a labour shortage.

The EU’s home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson said in a speech this week “as much as 80 per cent of companies tell us they can’t find the people they need here in the EU”, adding that “labour shortages have a catastrophic cost”.

So how can companies - and their HR departments - adapt to this pressing new reality? We’re putting this to a panel of experts on January 19 for the latest Euronews Debate, titled ‘How do you recruit and retain talent in times of change?’

We’ll be asking them how employers can make their brand stand out, and remain relevant to today’s workforce, with examples of recent success stories.

They’ll also be discussing what is driving candidate behaviour aside from the pandemic - and how HR departments can secure the talent with this knowledge