'Grow your own' workforce proposed for council
Hybrid working has been suggested as one way of improving work-life balance and retaining staff
- Published
Highland Council has proposed "growing its own" workforce to help it overcome recruitment difficulties.
It said finding candidates with the right skillset and experience was a Scotland-wide issue but exacerbated in rural areas of the Highlands.
The local authority said a further challenge was the region's aging demographic, and it expected a high number of its staff to retire in the next five years.
In a new report, it said Modern Apprenticeships, external and close working with local colleges and secondary schools were essential parts of planning its future workforce.
Highland Council
10,000Estimated number of people who work for the local authority
122Vacancies the council is currently trying to fill. They include teachers, clerical workers and electricians
70,000People living in the council area are aged 45 to 64, the largest age group in the region.
![In numbers:. Highland Council [ 10,000 Estimated number of people who work for the local authority ],[ 122 Vacancies the council is currently trying to fill. They include teachers, clerical workers and electricians ] [ 70,000 People living in the council area are aged 45 to 64, the largest age group in the region. ], Source: Source: Highland Council, Image: The village of Ullapool and a boat's wake on Loch Broom.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/920/idt2/idt2/a30a7ebd-3fe2-43f8-9413-4d544b0307aa/image/460)
The report, due to be discussed by councillors on Thursday, external, also said the council should seek to reduce staff turnover.
It said a lack of training and development opportunities had been given among the reasons why staff left.
To help retain employees, the report has recommended improving work-life balance by supporting flexible and hybrid working.
Officials said in the paper: "Focus lies on branding the Highland Council as an employer of choice and working in partnership with other employers to attract workforce to the Highland.
"Growing our own by developing our current workforce and engaging the young workforce through Modern Apprenticeships is an essential component of workforce planning.
"Other measures are working closely with secondary education providers to ensure training courses meet our recruitment needs, and to increase the number of work experience placements.