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Realizing the Value of Untapped Talent

For People, Business, and Society

Employers continue to struggle with job vacancies and mismatches between the talent they need and what they are finding in the marketplace. At the same time, unemployed and underemployed individuals are sitting on the sidelines of standard talent pipelines due to perceived barriers and misconceptions related to one or more demographic characteristics. The reason for this problem could be as simple as the way employers have always looked at talent. With six generations now in the workplace, this approach needs to be disrupted for your organization to address its talent needs and send a critical retention signal to your current employees that you value inclusive workplaces.

Workers from untapped talent pools, such as military veterans, spouses, and caregivers; individuals ages 60 and older; people with disabilities; those with a criminal record; and opportunity youth (young adults who are not in school or working), provide high return on investment and unique, in-demand skills. Greater inclusivity in hiring practices opens doors to more equitable and diverse work environments where both business and employees can thrive.

If we are to build a world of work that works for all, leveraging untapped talent is a value that needs to become integral to workplace talent strategies. SHRM Foundation is committed to providing evidence-based strategies, learning, and actionable resources to all HR stakeholders to increase their knowledge and capacity to widen pathways for work.

Visionary Partnership Untapped Talent

SHRM Foundation and Clarvida, a leader in behavioral health and social services, have joined forces to promote the hiring of untapped talent, including veterans, individuals with disabilities, and opportunity youth. This collaboration aims to transform Clarvida’s hiring practices by incorporating inclusive strategies and focusing on diverse talent pools. As our Visionary Partner, Clarvida will implement strategies to hire untapped talent, with support from the SHRM Foundation, fostering inclusive work environments and revolutionizing their workforce development.

Untapped Talent: What Your Workplace Stands to Gain

Veterans and the Military Community

Strong commitment to organizational mission

Entrepreneurial and self-motivated approach and mindset

Comfortable with ambiguity and resilient

Many have advanced technical training

Experienced in cross-cultural and diverse workplaces

People with Criminal Records

Higher-than-average loyalty to organization

Lower turnover and lower frequency of disciplinary issues

Eager to work hard to prove value

Increase diversity since U.S. criminal justice system disproportionally impacts people of color

People Age 60+

Higher levels of engagement than other populations

Strong work ethic backed by broad work and life experiences

Large existing network of professional contacts

Often have strong communication and leadership skills

Veterans and the Military Community

Strong commitment to organizational mission

Entrepreneurial and self-motivated approach and mindset

Comfortable with ambiguity and resilient

Many have advanced technical training

Experienced in cross-cultural and diverse workplaces

People with Criminal Records

Higher-than-average loyalty to organization

Lower turnover and lower frequency of disciplinary issues

Eager to work hard to prove value

Increase diversity since U.S. criminal justice system disproportionally impacts people of color

People Age 60+

Higher levels of engagement than other populations

Strong work ethic backed by broad work and life experiences

Large existing network of professional contacts

Often have strong communication and leadership skills

Military Spouses and Caregivers

Skilled at adapting to change and navigating ambiguity

Strong leadership and strategic problem-solving skills

Bring experience from vast life and work-related experiences

Healthcare and other benefits are covered by the military

People with Disabilities

High quality of performance and work ethic

First-hand experience with accessibility and inclusion challenges

Higher-than-average loyalty to organization

Lower likelihood of incurring work-related accidents and less time-off spent

Take pride in their work

Opportunity Youth

Bring innovative and creative ideas to problems and processes

High levels of enthusiasm and willingness to learn

Increases age diversity of organization and can help expand customer market

Offer unique perspective to current cultural trends

Increase diversity since most Opportunity Youth are non-white

Military Spouses and Caregivers

Skilled at adapting to change and navigating ambiguity

Strong leadership and strategic problem-solving skills

Bring experience from vast life and work-related experiences

Healthcare and other benefits are covered by the military

People with Disabilities

High quality of performance and work ethic

First-hand experience with accessibility and inclusion challenges

Higher-than-average loyalty to organization

Lower likelihood of incurring work-related accidents and less time-off spent

Take pride in their work

Opportunity Youth

Bring innovative and creative ideas to problems and processes

High levels of enthusiasm and willingness to learn

Increases age diversity of organization and can help expand customer market

Offer unique perspective to current cultural trends

Increase diversity since most Opportunity Youth are non-white

Tap into Untapped Talent
with SHRM Foundation Certificates

SHRM Foundation offers free certificate programs to equip you to Invest in untapped talent pools, diversify your workforce, and recognize the benefits for both people and business from building inclusive workplaces. Earn a total of 30 professional development credits toward your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification by completing all three!

Gain actionable knowledge and tools to recruit, hire, and retain individuals with disabilities.

Create organizational strategies and processes to recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with criminal records.

Learn critical insights to adapt your workplace into one that attracts, hires, and retains veterans and the military community.

Wendi Safstrom

President, SHRM Foundation

“The value of untapped talent must be recognized as more than a matter of social good or community goodwill. Workers from these groups provide high return on investment and unique skills that employers should be realizing, and we also want HR professionals to be more reflective of these diverse populations.”

Create Your Organization’s Untapped Talent Employment Plan with Research, Templates, and Guides

With almost two-thirds (65%) of organizations reportedly not yet working on developing talent pipelines for untapped groups of workers, there is more work to be done to ensure these individuals are not left behind and to capitalize on the value they bring to employers. This HR activation center, developed by the SHRM Foundation and Walmart, offers HR professionals and employers tools, assessments, and guides to improve hiring strategies and elevate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in the workplace.

Untapped Talent Research Report

Download the research report which surveyed HR professionals and employers about their experiences working with people from untapped talent pools.

The Rise of Skilled Credentials in Hiring

Learn how employers and employees view and value skilled credentials.

Making Skilled Credentials Work:
A New Strategy for HR Professionals

Strategies for employers, HR professionals and hiring managers to effectively use skilled credentials and key steps to ensure skilled credentials fulfill their potential for talent identification.