4 CPG Recruiting Trends You Should Be Aware Of

Consumer packaged goods, or simply CPG, is one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide. It encompasses all the products consumers replace frequently and regularly, such as food and beverages. At the time of this publication, it has been valued at $2 trillion in North America only.

It’s also one of the sectors most susceptible to innovation, including those stemming from improved work methodologies and those powered by technology. This puts people working in this sector in a tough spot, as they need to stay on top of their daily tasks and their professional growth and development.

If you have an open CPG position, finding a reliable worker who can contribute to your business goals is of utmost importance and you should consider staying on top of the latest CPG recruitment trends.

Here are the most noteworthy trends you should be aware of:

CPG Employees Reflect The Target Demographics

Every consumer base is different. The latest trend in CPG recruiting practices revolves around matching employees in the CPG sector to the specific profile of the target demographic. That’s why we can see many companies taking inclusion and diversity into account when recruiting people for CPG positions.

Since we are talking about the items distributed by the CPG sector, we also have to take into account who the biggest spenders are. In this case, the consumer base comprises mostly women as they are typically responsible for household purchases.

It goes beyond creating a workplace able to attract top talent. Companies have recognized this development and new trends encompass a variety of perks and benefits specifically tailored to cater to the needs of female CPG job candidates.

Knowledge Of Applied Technologies Becomes An Important Factor

Long gone are the days when CPGs were exclusively sold in brick and mortar stores. Back then, the quality and packaging design were the main factors that affected customers’ decisions. Today, the situation has changed drastically.

Ecommerce has become one of the main channels for the distribution of CPGs. To stay on top of developments in the digital landscape, people in the CPG sector must understand technology and know how to leverage it to boost sales.

We are talking about digital marketing, data analytics, mobile technology and automated supply chain management here. People in CPG positions should understand these concepts, know how to use them, and interpret the data from various marketing and sales channels to make smart decisions.

Future-Proof Your Recruitment Tactics With A Retention Strategy

Companies are beginning to realize that the majority of the workforce in the labor market are millennials. Some experts attribute high turnover rates to how specific millennials are and their unique expectations. Given the fact that millennials are the biggest workplace demographic today, companies have to address their expectations with appropriate retention programs.

The latest news release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is troubling, to say the least. The turnover rates are spiking across verticals, especially in sectors closely related to CPG, including wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation, warehousing and utilities.

Every recruitment effort becomes an investment in the eyes of a company, followed by a new trend of devising and implementing a sustainable retention strategy to address high turnover rates.

Fortunately, companies have access to various methods to motivate people in the CPG sector to stay with them. We can already see several strategies based on regular employee awards and the praising system, well-organized onboarding programs, transparent performance assessment policies, and ongoing training and professional development programs.

Aligning With Professional CPG Recruiters For Ultimate Success

As things become more complicated in the world of CPG recruitment, more and more companies are outsourcing CPG recruitment to professionals. We are not just talking about finding reliable employees here but also reducing the average time to fill a position.

There’s another important factor here that makes companies seek out help from professional CPG recruiters.

“Aligning roles and unique company culture with candidates is of utmost importance. This is the only way to benefit from recruiting experienced and talented employees while reducing the risk of turnover”, says Jennifer Britton, CPG executive recruiter in MN.

The CPG industry, as well as CPG recruitment, are dynamic fields. The changes are driven by technological advances, new distribution channels and workforce demographic needs. As you can see, the trends in the CPG recruitment sector reflect these changes. Knowing these trends will help you find employees who can carry your business forward and ensure its success.