How companies can bridge the skills gap with an age-diverse and inclusive workforce

Advocate for inclusive employment

Companies grappling with talent shortages can consider another untapped talent pool. people with different abilities.

For example, UOB continues to hire Extraordinary employee At the UOB Scan Hub, the hub for checking, digitizing, and archiving customer documents since 2013.

Agnes Tay, The Senior Vice President of UOB Scan Hub shares that when the center was first established in 2012, it experienced challenges such as high turnover.

“We were overwhelmed by the amount of documentation and had a hard time identifying the right candidates for the roles we needed. Turnover was very high, around 50%,” she says.

Management decided to analyze the types of skill sets needed. UOB Scan Hubnarrows it down to a few key traits – a keen eye for detail, a high level of concentration, and a methodical approach.

“We looked at alternative sources of workers with these qualities and realized that people with autism were the best candidates for these jobs. ARC), we started tapping into this talent pool,” says Tay.

ARC is a Singapore-based non-profit organization that helps people with autism.

Today, approximately 35% of UOB Scan Hub staff have various disabilities. 2 deaf employees“Our productivity has increased by more than 100% and our turnover rate has dropped to just 5%,” Tay adds.

“The key to inclusive employment is to make it sustainable, and it is important for organizations to identify the business case for doing so,” said Gan Ai Im.Managing Director and Head of Marketing, UOB Group Wholesale Banking.

Following the success of the UOB Scan Hub, the bank decided to look into facilitating adoption of the following: Extraordinary employee to other organizations in Singapore.

In July 2019, the bank surveyed 220 key decision makers in Singapore companies and found that two-thirds hired. supernatural person Whether sufficient guidance is provided for the recruitment process.

The bank then launched The Unlimited, an initiative aimed at encouraging businesses, including the bank’s corporate clients, to support inclusive employment. Cooperation with government agency SG Enable.

The latest roadmap, Enabling Masterplan 2030, announced by the government in August, shows that supernatural person About 30% of the population will be between the ages of 15 and 64 in 2020-2021.

The government aims to raise this to 40% by 2030. This means he will also employ 10,000 people.

Mr Gunn said: our business clients and partners Share best practices for inclusive hiring.

“We think this message is important because it has a multiplier effect by companies encouraging other companies to adopt inclusive employment.”

This initiative will not only help companies alleviate their talent problems, empowering individuals with diverse abilities You can generate your own income stream. “Having a job gives people dignity and purpose,” says Gunn.