How to Attract Big Talent to Smaller Cities

Did you know 54% of employers currently have open positions for which they cannot find qualified candidates? 

This is a direct result of the skills gap our nation has been facing. Unfortunately, this probably is not news to you.

The talent shortage has been a legitimate concern for employers throughout the nation for quite some time now. And for smaller cities like Buffalo, NY, this problem is often compounded due to the city’s size and location. As a result, WNY companies find themselves targeting the same talent pool as those companies in major metropolitan areas, such as New York City.

So what can we, the companies of WNY, do? 

• Walkability
• Public transportation
• Entertainment
• Restaurants
• Shopping
• Social opportunities
• Networking

Luckily for WNY, positions at large corporations in big cities are not as great as they sound. Living in the Big Apple, for example, contains numerous challenges that can adversely affect a candidate’s decision to take an opportunity – including:

• Longer commutes to work
• Higher cost of living
• Increased crime rates
• Fast paced environment
• Decreased quality of life

Yes, the above list gives companies in smaller cities a chance to capitalize on the pitfalls of living in a larger city. However, companies (especially in smaller cities) need to stop being reactive and start being proactive.

Below are a few proactive ways WNY companies, and small companies throughout the nation, can stay competitive in the talent acquisition marketplace:

There is no one “right” way to fill the skills gap and attract big talent to a city, such as Buffalo. If your company can become aware of its competitive landscape, create a flexible work environment, integrate the city’s culture into its own, place an emphasis on knowing the needs and desires of your candidates and work proactively to cultivate talent internally it will have far less openings going unfilled.