WHY IGNORING UNTAPPED TALENT IS
COSTING YOUR ORGANIZATION
The value of untapped talent must be recognized as more than a matter
of social good or community goodwill; workers from these groups
provide high return on investment and unique skills that employers
should be realizing. Organizations that are capable of thinking outside-
the-box in their recruitment strategy will see outside-the-box results.
Not only are experiences with untapped talent pools largely positive,
workers from these groups show higher-than-average job performance,
when compared to other employees. For example, SHRM research
found that individuals with criminal records can be some of the most
dedicated employees in organizations and among those with the best
retention rates when given the opportunity
1
.
The basic value proposition for untapped talent pools is essentially
the same, regardless of which group your organization plans to work
with: in exchange for investment from the business in establishing a
program to implement inclusive hiring practices, employers receive a
new candidate pool from which they can source high-value employees
who will provide results. Further, according to the majority of HR,
managers, and executives, when implementing diversity, equity, and
inclusion (DEI) programs focused on untapped talent groups, the
benefits were greater than or the same as those for employees from
their standard talent groups.
1 http://www.gettingtalentbacktowork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GettingTalentBackToWork_
Toolkit_WorkforceReadiness-2.pdf
87%
85%
83%
62%
64%
82%
11%
14%
14%
24%
28%
15%
60%
67%
72%
73%
64%
76%
16%
15%
25%
19%
37%
26%
FIGURE 1. The majority of HR professionals, managers, and executives report positive experiences working with people from untapped talent groups
FIGURE 2. The majority of HR professionals, managers, and executives report workers from untapped talent groups perform the same or better than other
employees
VETERANS
MILITARY SPOUSES AND CAREGIVERS
INDIVIDUALS AGE 60+
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
OPPORTUNITY YOUTH
INDIVIDUALS WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD
VETERANS
MILITARY SPOUSES AND CAREGIVERS
INDIVIDUALS AGE 60+
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
OPPORTUNITY YOUTH
INDIVIDUALS WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD
Overwhelmingly or mostly negative Neutral Overwhemingly or mostly positive
They regularly perform better than other employees They regularly perform the same as other employees
They regularly perform worse than other employees
3
