The State of Contract Talent Management and the Role of HR

Report Authored by: The Human Capital Institute

In late 2008, the Human Capital Institute launched a wide-ranging study on the state of Contract Talent in US organizations. The study included a survey completed by several hundred HR leaders, followed by in depth interviews with more than a dozen HR executives from across the country.

The importance of contract talent is undeniable. Fully one-third of the US workforce is already non-traditional. Independent contractors, consultants and other professional services make up millions of workers in our economy and represent a segment of the workforce that is growing five times faster than traditional employment.

Moreover, contract talent is increasingly engaged at the professional and/or executive levels – gone are the days when contact and “temp” work represented employment of last resort. More and more, it is the work of choice for young, mid-career and older workers alike. Yet despite the importance of contract talent in most organizations, the stewards of talent – HR – are seldom fully involved in the process of identifying, screening, hiring, managing and engaging this workforce.

Typically, contract talent management is left to procurement and purchasing professionals who excel at cost control but lack the training and expertise to acquire and leverage top talent. For most organizations to remain competitive, this has to change. HR and procurement must form a partnership to manage contract talent strategically.

Download this report to learn how over 300 organizations responded as to their views on the current state of contract talent management and the role of HR.