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OI Partners' Survey Unveils Top Concerns of HR Professionals Survey Reveals New Challenges for Employers and Workers In a Recovering Economy

NASHVILLE, TN—July 15, 2004—

OI Partners Inc., the talent management firm that provides a better human experience for a better business outcome, today announced the results of a survey about the top concerns human resource professionals face in today's recovering economy. The survey was conducted by polling HR professionals attending the 2004 Annual Society for Human Resource Management Conference and Exposition on June 26 - 29 and reveals which job areas are most affecting the U.S. workforce.

"The top concerns identified by HR professionals reflect that the economy is improving and with that improvement, come new challenges--and opportunities--for the U.S. workforce," said Steve Harvey, OI Partners chairman. "The bottom line is that the HR industry is bracing itself for change in companies' demands and workers' needs in a new economy, and they are looking for ways to successfully manage change," Montgomery said.

The top ten concerns of HR professionals in 2004 follow in order of importance:

  1. Leadership Development & Succession Planning
  2. Employee Retention
  3. Benefits Costs
  4. Training
  5. Compensation
  6. Skills Availability
  7. Outsourcing
  8. ROI with People
  9. Workers Compensation
  10. Economy

When compared to previous years' surveys, the issue that has remained in the top five concerns is employee retention. In 2004, retention ranked number two and in 2002 and 2001, it ranked number four and number one, respectively. Compensation, recruitment and the aging workforce are also concerns that have consistently ranked in the top concerns in recent years.

In 2002, the top five concerns for HR professionals included (in order of importance) 1) health insurance, 2) aging workforce, 3) recruitment, 4) retention and 5) compensation. In 2001, the top five concerns were (in order of importance) 1) retention, 2) skill/labor, 3) morale/motivation, 4) recruitment and 5) aging workforce. The survey focused on aging workforce issues in 2003.

About OI Partners

OI Partners is the talent management and leadership solutions firm that provides a better human experience for a better business outcome. Established in 1987, OI Partners Inc. is a corporation of leading career consulting, executive development, leadership development and outplacement professionals located in more than 200 locally-owned offices in 27 countries. For more information, please visit www.oipartners.net or call 800-232-5285.

Contact: Jill Van Nostran, 330-347-2386, jvannostran@oipartners.net