Around the world, the costs of commodities are coming up strong.
Really strong. Gold and copper are at record prices. Oil is at a two-year high. Cotton has increased 22% already this year (and that’s after a 92% surge in 2010!). Dehydrated garlic power prices have tripled, black pepper doubled. Sugar, coal, wheat and cocoa – up and up they go and go.
Scrambling to act before prices increase even more, big banks are getting in on the profitable trade , mills are buying up contracts, factories are stockpiling materials. Inflation fears have businesses mounting their inventories at such a rate, they might as well star in the next episode of that reality TV show about hoarders.
Raw materials aren’t the only commodities businesses should be concerned with nabbing up as prices continue to skyrocket though. The time is also ripe for taking advantage of talent.
Simplistically speaking, the laws of supply and demand are just as applicable to the job market as they are to the commodity trade. Our economy’s current high unemployment rate translates to a bigger pool of educated, skilled, and personable people available for work in professional positions. With less demand for hiring from business leaders weary of their own financial futures, salary rates have become more negotiable. In many instances, top talent has become willing to take dramatic pay cuts for job security with a reputable employer.
As reported today, top economists predict that the unemployment rate will remain above 9% in 2011. In time however, the economy will bounce back, unemployment will fall, and first-rate professionals will become more scarce. Hence why we have to wonder, in applying free market principles towards the commodity of human resources, why aren’t businesses that can afford it stockpiling staff members? Investing in their intellectual inventories? Taking advantage of top talent? Hoarding humans who are hungry for work?
At the same time, why isn’t every job opening that’s posted being immediately filled with the ablest of applicants, the best of businesspeople, the premium of professionals? In commodity jargon, there is an abundance of precious metal out there. For employers, why not seize this opportunity as the perfect time to set a new gold standard for your staffing needs?!
And for the unemployed too – why not put your worth to work as the valuable commodity that you are?! Consulting companies that provide recruiting services for their clients have a variety of prime positions available even in these times of high unemployment. Here at entreQuest, we’re scouting for superior talent in the areas of executive leadership, management, sales, and support across a variety of industries. If you yourself are looking for a job, and you prize your value in energy, enthusiasm, experience, and earning-potential, we would love to consider you for placement. If you know of someone looking for a job who possesses the aforementioned qualities, we welcome all candidate referrals. Our current career opportunities can be viewed at this link: http://www.entrequest.com/careers/.
eQ makes its matches based on the best of supply and the best of demand. Right now this country is on the cusp of an economic climax where a high unemployment rate has top talent available for work and where an optimistic outlook is beckoning businesses to restore their staffs. There’s no better time to capitalize on this commodity market - before the cream of the crop candidates become as scarce as the cream of other commodity crops.
Kristen Zatina is a writing specialist at entreQuest who scours worldwide business news for corporate inspiration.
(Information Sources:
" Ashworth Tops Economy Survey" by Justin Lahart. The Wall Street Journal. Monday 7 February 2011.
"Fearing Inflation, Firms Stocking Up" by Liam Pleven and Matt Wirz. The Wall Street Journal. Thursday 3 February 2011.
"Deutsche Bank Wants to Join the Commodities Boom" by Laura Stevens and William Launder. The Wall Street Journal. Friday 4 February 2011.
"A Cotton Market Targets Speculators" by Carolyn Cui and Leslie Josephs. The Wall Street Journal. Friday 4 February 2011.
"Pricey Cocoa Won't Bar Hershey Profit" by John Jannarone. The Wall Street Journal. Friday 4 February 2011.
"Bernanke Denies That Fed Is Stoking Inflation" by Sudeep Reddy and Brian Blackstone. The Wall Street Journal. Friday 4 February 2011.
"Coal Port Takes Its Lumps" by Joel Millman and Kris Maher. The Wall Street Journal. Friday 4 February 2011.)