Closing the Gap: Combat Your Skills Shortages With a Hybrid Staffing Model

by Contact 1 Inc on August 22, 2024 in Candidate Recruitment, Hiring, Temp/Temp-to-Hire

Skills gaps: are they really as bad as everyone claims? Recent data shows 70% of U.S. companies reported facing skills shortages in 2023—that’s up 24% from 2017. It’s a big number and a big jump, no doubt. But where some see talent crisis, we see opportunity.

The solution? It’s been here all along, hiding in plain sight—contract talent.

Think of these temporary specialists as reinforcements for your team. They expand your capabilities, strengthen your workforce, and help you solve tough challenges.

Need a social media whiz for a month-long campaign? Done. A project coordinator to streamline your next big initiative? Just say the word. With every project, contractors can fortify your organization’s structure, turning weak spots into hubs of innovation. It’s not about replacing your core team, either. It’s about amplifying their capabilities.

Sound too good to be true? It’s not. It’s one of the things we do best at Contact 1! But you might be wondering: how exactly can temporary talent bridge your skills gap and propel your company forward? Read on as we break down the key benefits of using contractors to fill skills gaps, and why a hybrid staffing model is a smart strategy for forward-thinking companies.

Gain Rapid Access to Specialized Skills

The contract talent pool runs deep. Upwork’s Freelance Forward study found 64 million Americans—39% of the U.S. workforce—engaged in contract work in 2023. That’s a vast ocean of specialized skills, ready to be tapped. Need a niche skill for a short or long-term project? There’s likely a contractor out there who fits the bill perfectly. The days of compromising on skills or waiting months to fill a critical role are over—especially with the help of a staffing firm like Contact 1.

Consider this scenario: a non-profit facing a funding challenge. Within a few short weeks, they can bring on a contract Grants & Finance Assistant. While there’s still a streamlined interview process and some necessary training, the process is often quicker than hiring a permanent employee. The contracted professional brings relevant experience that can be quickly adapted to the organization’s specific needs.

The rapid access to expertise that contractors offer allows organizations to tackle specialized projects without long-term commitments and bring fresh perspectives to persistent challenges. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for your workforce—the right tool for every job, always at hand.

And speed doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. These contractors often bring years of specialized experience to the table. They’ve honed their skills across various projects and industries, allowing them to dive right in and deliver the results you need. It’s important to note that for entry-level or less experienced positions, more substantial training may be necessary. Even in these cases, the flexibility of a hybrid staffing model allows organizations to address immediate needs while developing talent tailored to their specific requirements.

Combining this level of agility and expertise can be a game-changer, especially for time-sensitive projects or in competitive markets where being first can make all the difference. For example:

In the tech industry, launching a new feature before competitors can mean capturing market share.
For marketing firms, quickly adapting to a viral trend could lead to a successful campaign.
In research, rapid assembly of a specialized team might secure a crucial grant.

Having the ability to bring in contractors at a moment’s notice allows you to capitalize on opportunities or solve problems faster than rivals relying solely on their in-house talent.

Empower Your Core Team

High-stress periods and demanding projects are inevitable in any business. However, consistently overworking your full-time staff can lead to their burnout. Research shows employees experiencing burnout have:

57% higher risk of extended sick leave (over two weeks)
180% increased risk of developing depression
84% higher likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes
40% greater risk of hypertension

Moreover, burnout can impair cognitive functions crucial for daily work, including short-term memory and attention span.

While pushing full-time employees to their limits might seem beneficial in the short term, the long-term costs of burnout far outweigh any temporary gains. By investing in temporary professionals to close skills gaps, you can alleviate pressure on your permanent employees. Reducing the stress of your full-timers not only improves job satisfaction but also contributes to a more positive and productive work environment.

Beyond stress reduction, collaborating with contractors offers full-time staff valuable opportunities for growth and learning. Expert contractors often bring diverse experiences and fresh perspectives to the table. As they work alongside your permanent team, knowledge transfer naturally occurs. Your staff gains exposure to new techniques, tools, and approaches they might not have encountered otherwise.

For example, think about a marketing team using a hybrid staffing model to collaborate with contract Digital Marketing Specialists on major campaigns. While these positions often require initial training, they offer valuable benefits. The contractors help manage the increased workload, allowing the core team to focus on strategy. As these specialists grow into their roles, they bring fresh perspectives and may introduce the team to emerging trends in digital marketing. Long after the campaigns end, the in-house team continues to benefit from these new skills and insights. This approach allows you to build specialized skills over time while addressing your immediate staffing needs.

Additionally, by delegating specific tasks or projects to contractors, you can free up your permanent employees to focus on high-value, strategic work. Not only does this make better use of your core team’s skills and knowledge, but it also provides them with opportunities for career growth and development. Instead of getting bogged down in day-to-day tasks, they can take on leadership roles, spearhead new initiatives, or dive deep into complex, long-term projects.

In essence, a well-implemented hybrid staffing model elevates your entire workforce. It creates a dynamic environment where both contractors and permanent staff thrive, learn from each other, and collectively drive your company forward.

Reduce Skill Acquisition Costs

Traditionally, the solution to skills gaps has been hiring a new full-time employee. However, this approach comes with substantial costs beyond just the salary. Recruitment fees, onboarding expenses, benefits, office space, and equipment all add up quickly. Not to mention the time investment required to find, interview, and train a new permanent staff member—if you’re not partnering with a recruitment firm.

Engaging contractors, on the other hand, can offer a more cost-effective solution, especially for specialized or short-term needs. Why is there such a big difference in cost? Firstly, with contractors, you pay for the specific skills and time you need, without the overhead of full-time employment. There’s no need for long-term commitments or benefits packages. You can scale your workforce up or down as projects demand, optimizing your budget allocation.

Moreover, hiring talent on a temporary basis to begin with allows you to ‘try before you buy.’ If a particular skill set proves to be consistently necessary for your team, and a contractor performs exceptionally well, there’s always the option to offer them a permanent position down the line.

It’s important to note that the cost benefits of contractors extend beyond direct financial savings. The flexibility they offer can lead to increased efficiency and productivity. By bringing in specialized talent for specific projects or peak periods, you can maintain a lean core team while still having access to a wide range of skills as needed.

Stay Agile in a Changing Market

New technologies, shifting consumer behaviors, and global events can transform entire industries overnight. A hybrid staffing model can help you maintain your agility. Bringing in contract talent to cover skills gaps allows you to quickly address new trends or challenges without the long-term commitment of permanent hires. Unlike full-time employees juggling multiple responsibilities, contractors can often focus solely on one project at a time—or take on as many as they can be productive with.

They’re also less likely to get bogged down in meetings or office distractions. Plus, with control over their schedules, contractors can work during their peak productivity hours—even if that’s outside the 9-to-5 grind. What does this mean for your team? Work is completed faster and with more focus. Once one project is completed, contractors are ready to pivot to their next task.

Let’s say a federal agency was facing a surge in paperwork during tax season or after a major policy change. Rather than struggling with existing resources or rushing to hire permanent staff, they could quickly scale their administrative support by bringing in contract Administrative Coordinators and Document Scanning Specialists. That way, they can efficiently manage the increased workload without overcommitting resources long-term.

The agility a hybrid staffing model provides extends beyond just managing workload fluctuations. It also allows your organization to stay at the forefront of industry trends. As new skills become relevant, you can quickly bring in contractors with cutting-edge expertise, keeping your operational strategy modern and competitive.

A hybrid staffing model positions you to anticipate and capitalize on change. Especially in industries where change is constant, this agility can be the difference between your organization leading the market or falling behind.

Embrace the Future of Work with Contact 1

The future of work isn’t about choosing sides. It’s not full-time versus contract, or flexibility at the cost of stability. Instead, it’s about finding the right balance—a sweet spot where your core team’s dedication meets the agility of on-demand talent.

At Contact 1, we’ve witnessed firsthand how a hybrid staffing approach can transform organizations. We’ve helped companies across industries—from bustling tech startups to established government agencies—find their ideal staffing balance. Whether you’re looking to fill an immediate skills gap or develop a long-term strategy for a more flexible workforce, the Contact 1 team can guide you through the process.