What tomorrow's candidates need to know today.(SELECTED TOPIC)(skilled professional recruitment)

No one knows what the future holds, but workers often wish they could get a sneak peak. Being able to predict what developments will affect a particular field, which industries are poised for growth and which skills employers will seek can provide candidates with a valuable leg up over the competition for a new job or promotion.

If you're searching for some insight into the workplace of tomorrow, you're in luck. Robert Half International has conducted extensive research and interviewed leading workplace experts and futurists for a snapshot of the future. Following are some trends tomorrow's candidates will need to know today:

Continued Demand For Skilled Candidates

The recession of a few years ago is no doubt still in the back of some workers' minds, but many signs today point toward stable job growth. Among these is the retirement of baby boomers from the American workforce, which is expected to create a significant shortage of labor and skills. Research conducted by Robert Half International indicates that many companies are already beginning to address this need: 78 percent of firms we surveyed are taking steps to compensate for the loss of key personnel to retirement in the next five to 10 years, including enhancing their recruitment and retention programs.

In addition, a strengthening economy and ongoing regulatory requirements, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Graham-Leach-Bliley Act and the USA PATRIOT Act, also will fuel the demand for accounting and finance, information technology, administrative, healthcare and other professionals.

With the reform-driven spike in demand, along with emerging business growth opportunities, employers have realized the need to step-up their recruiting efforts and offer more competitive compensation and benefits packages. Incentives such as signing bonuses are being offered more frequently to top candidates, and firms are publicizing benefits such as flexible scheduling, reduced workload arrangements and concierge services to help them attract and retain employees.

Technology Plays A Larger Role