US News & World Report: COVID-19 did a number on the workforce.

It’s been two years since the global coronavirus pandemic upended everything we knew about the world of work.

We learned that we could find new, digitally accelerated ways of getting the job done. We found that life and family mattered more than ever before. And that we didn’t have to settle for an employer that couldn’t — or wouldn’t — meet our needs for a fulfilling career.

As a result, companies are facing an increasing lack of talent as the post-pandemic recovery ramps up. It’s a combination of early retirement, disengaged employees, and unfriendly back-to-the-office policies. There is a disconnect between what workers want and need, and employers are willing to give.

“Organizations must realize that talent shortages and skills gaps aren’t going away anytime soon, and we’re not going back to the old way of working,” says Mike Smith, global CEO at Randstad Sourceright. “Ultimately, companies that offer more well-rounded benefits and provide people with a better work-life balance will be best positioned to attract and retain top talent in this tight labor market.”

The tables have turned and workers now have the upper hand. Read more about the current state of affairs in U.S. News & World Report, and get ahead of what’s coming next with Randstad Sourceright’s latest 2022 Talent Trends Report.