New Data Reveals Independent Talent Fuel Growth and Operational Excellence for Executives
Business Talent Group’s fifth annual High-End Independent Talent Report shows 161% increase in demand for business processes expertise; 192% increase in workforce planning projects; 137% rise in requests for interim leadership.
Los Angeles, CA – March 15, 2022 – A new report from Business Talent Group (BTG)—the leading talent marketplace for independent management consultants, interim executives, subject matter experts, and project managers, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII)—reveals how leading executives are leveraging on-demand talent amid ongoing economic uncertainty and labor shortages.
BTG’s 2022 High-End Independent Talent Report, based on an analysis of proprietary BTG data, provides deep insights into how leaders across all industries and business functions are increasingly relying on independent talent to fill critical skill, expertise, and leadership gaps. The report comes as companies are fiercely competing to secure top talent for traditional, full-time employment—with US CEOs ranking labor shortages as the number one external threat to their businesses, and 58% of leaders reporting that closing skill gaps within their workforces has become a higher priority since the pandemic began.
“For business leaders to achieve their goals in this relentlessly uncertain environment, on-demand access to highly skilled independent talent is an essential piece of human capital infrastructure that companies must harness,” said Jody Greenstone Miller, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Business Talent Group. “As they struggle to bring on increasingly specialized and in-demand talent for traditional full-time roles, companies are recognizing that the breadth and depth of the independent talent market adds a new arrow to their quiver to resource against core priorities and fill critical gaps across industries and functions.”
Key insights from the 2022 High-End Independent Talent Report include:
On-demand talent is on the CXO agenda:
More than 70% of all requests are now coming from VPs and above, including 40% of on-demand project needs requested by C-level executives. This marks the first time that CXOs and presidents tapped on-demand talent more than any other buying group.
Interim leadership continues to permeate the organization:
The number of requests to fill leadership-level roles below the C-suite increased 189% YOY. Overall, requests for interim leaders increased by 137% YOY.
Consistent demand for strategic expertise and hands-on execution:
Across all industries and business functions, robust demand for independent talent adept at growth strategies, market landscapes and research, project management, and marketing and sales.
Growing interest in business processes and workforce planning:
As executives look to optimize, grow, and redefine the future of work, demand is rising for experts in organizational effectiveness (+192% YOY), human capital (+187% YOY), and business processes (+161% YOY)
Most in-demand projects:
- Business Processes
- Marketing and Sales
- Product Strategy and Launch
- Business Intelligence and Analytics
- Interim Leadership
- Opportunity Assessment
- Human Capital
- Innovation and R&D
- Growth Strategy
- Planning
Most in-demand skills:
- Project Management
- Market Landscape and Research
- Organizational Design and Workforce Planning
- Growth Strategy
- Process Optimization and Transformation
- Strategic Planning
- Corporate and Business Unit Strategy
- Financial Planning, Analysis, and Modeling
- Program Management Office (PMO)
- Market Access and Value
For a detailed look at the top requested projects and skills specific to twelve industries and twelve business functions, view the full 2022 High-End Independent Talent Report from BTG.
About BTG
Business Talent Group (BTG) is the leading talent marketplace that connects independent management consultants, subject matter experts, project managers, and interim executives with the world’s best companies. BTG provides just the right on-demand talent needed: remote or on-site, part-time or full-time, individuals or teams, all around the world. That’s why more than 50% of the F100 and hundreds of other leading companies trust BTG to curate, vet, and compliantly deliver talent who fuel growth, innovation, and performance improvement. BTG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII).
For more information, visit businesstalentgroup.com and join the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.