Human Capital Institute Launches Annual Talent Market Research Study

The Human Capital Institute (HCI), the only professional association for strategic talent management, is launching studies today to develop comparative data in 25 American cities, analyzing both the new generation of educated mobile workers as well as the demand for skilled employees facing regional and national employers. HCI's data will be unveiled this fall in conjunction with their City Talent Summits in Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Boston, each keynoted by former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.

The HCI Talent Market Index Research Study will identify key challenges facing City Talent Summit host cities, said Michael Foster, HCI chairman. With results benchmarked against comparable research performed in other American cities, we'll have a meaningful study of how these cities shape up competitively against other domestic markets. Our other research also will provide a meaningful measure of competition in international locations.

Surveys will be distributed on the basis of professional level, industry, and specific occupations. Individual impressions on the job market, preferences for employment, regional amenities, and local life-work priorities also will be measured. Results will provide worried CEO's and HR leaders as well as mayors, city comptrollers, and public policy officials vital information about savvy, educated workers who chart careers while simultaneously evaluating housing affordability, regional livability, and availability of adequate public education. Employers will gain further insight on strategies to harness talented and skilled professionals to sustain and enhance competitive advantage in order to compete better globally.

HCI Sees Dividend in Roadmap for Ongoing Activities Data from secondary research conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, CEO for Cities, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Department of Education, Chambers of Commerce, and others will be utilized. HCI also expects to examine various innovation studies to develop strategies that will facilitate collaboration. Action agendas for talent attraction, development, innovation and retention will follow the output from City Summit national and local expert panels, said HCI's Executive Director Allan Schweyer, providing a starting point for a roadmap of ongoing activities among participants.

Building on conferences held in 2006 in Johannesburg and Montreal, this year's City Talent Summits panels will discuss solutions that address Branding Talent and Attraction, Education and Human Capital Development, Innovation and Economic Growth, and Alignment and Retention. HCI's City Talent Summit participants and key regional employers also will benefit from an online portal for collaboration, year-long action planning and follow-up, and will have access to City Summit outcomes reporting.

The Human Capital Institute is a global think tank, education organization and professional association defining the agenda and setting the pace for the new business science of human capital management. With over 82,000 members in over 40 countries, HCI offers a new association framework that cuts across the silos of recruitment, HR/OD, finance, sales and marketing, operations, manufacturing and IT. HCI provides key executives, line managers, and human capital professionals with the newest education, the most effective tools, and best practices in talent strategy, acquisition, alignment, engagement, deployment, measurement, and retention. For more information, please visit: