A new survey sheds light on how employers can overcome their top staffing challenges.

Forty-three percent of hiring managers and human resource professionals are concerned top workers will leave their organizations this year, according to a new CareerBuilder survey.

The survey of over 3,000 hiring managers and human resources professionals nationwide also revealed that 34 percent of human resource managers saw an increase in voluntary turnover (workers leaving organizations for other opportunities) last year. Given these findings, it’s no wonder retention is a concern for so many organizations right now

Moreover, hiring managers in the information technology, financial services, manufacturing and health care fields – industries that rely on high-skilled workers – expressed the most concern about a potential talent exodus.

In addition to retention worries, the inability to fill open positions presents a whole other worry for hiring managers: 26 percent say they currently have open positions for which they cannot find qualified candidates.

Retention, compensation among employers’ biggest challenges
When asked to name their biggest staffing challenges this year, survey participants gave the following answers:

• Being able to retain top talent (35 percent)
• Being able to provide competitive compensation (35 percent)
• Worker burnout  (32 percent)
• Maintaining productivity levels (29 percent)
• Being able to provide upward mobility (26 percent)
• Can’t find high-skilled applicants (24 percent)
• Don’t have the budget to recruit (13 percent)

Beyond salary increases, organizations can offer a broader range of perks and benefits to meet these challenges, according to Rosemary Haefner, CareerBuilder’s vice president of human resources.

Overcoming staffing challenges | Workers weigh in
In addition to hiring managers and human resource professionals participated, more than 7,700 workers nationwide also participated in the survey, revealing insight that could help employers meet these challenges. When asked what they consider most when evaluating a potential employer, workers who participated in the survey gave the following answers:

• Longevity/stability
• Good work culture
• Career advancement opportunities
• Flexible schedules

Note that even if your organization provides employees some or all of the above perks, you might not be communicating it to current and potential employees as clearly or as frequently as you think you are: a 2011 MetLife study found that 55 percent of employees feel their communication regarding benefits is either unclear or too infrequent.

Do these results surprise you? What staffing challenges concern you most?