Global shortage of skilled talent doubled in the last decade
The global shortage of skilled talent has doubled in the last decade, affecting the competitiveness of companies. ManpowerGroup reveals that 74% of global employers face this challenge.
The human talent gap has become
a growing concern globally and for Colombian companies, which are struggling to fill their vacancies.According to the ManpowerGroup Talent Shortage 2025 Report, 59% of employers in Colombia report difficulties in finding suitable profiles, a figure lower than the global average of 74%, and the lowest among the surveyed countries, along with Poland (59%) and Puerto Rico (53%).
Global Increase in Talent Shortage
Globally, the difficulty in finding skilled talent has alarmingly increased over the last decade.
In 2014, 36% of employers worldwide faced this issue, while in 2025, this figure will double, reaching 74%.
The countries most affected by the talent shortage are Germany (86%), Israel (85%), and Portugal (84%), leading this phenomenon.
Industries Most Affected
The report highlights that in Colombia, certain sectors are most affected by the lack of talent. The industries with the highest shortage of specialized staff include:
- Life Sciences and Health (79%)
- Consumer Goods and Services (73%)
- Information Technologies (68%)
- Transportation, Logistics, and Automotive (66%)
On the other hand, the hardest-to-find skills in the country are the following: • Information Technology and Data (22%)
- Reception and Customer Service (22%)
- Sales and Marketing (22%)
- Engineering (19%)
- Operations and Logistics (18%)
- Administration and Office Support (18%)
Javier Echeverri, President of ManpowerGroup Colombia, emphasizes the urgency of addressing this challenge:
“Companies in Colombia are feeling the effects of the talent shortage, particularly in key sectors such as healthcare and technology. If we do not close this gap, we may see a direct impact on the country’s productivity and competitiveness. The key lies in strengthening training and skill development.”
Strategies to Mitigate the Crisis
To address this crisis, Colombian companies are implementing various talent management strategies. Among the most prominent are:
- Training and internal development: 28% of employers are investing in upskilling and reskilling programs.
- Salary increases: 23% have opted to raise salaries to attract talent.
- Work flexibility: 22% of companies offer more flexible work arrangements.
- Talent search expansion: 21% are exploring new recruitment sources.
Echeverri underscores the importance of these initiatives:
“Companies that invest in training their internal talent and offer more attractive conditions are better positioned to face the challenges of the current labor market.”
The Talent Shortage Survey 2025 was conducted in 42 countries, with the participation of over 40,000 employers in key sectors of the global economy.
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